diff --git a/rest_framework/compat.py b/rest_framework/compat.py
index c1074b7f8..b348f05a9 100644
--- a/rest_framework/compat.py
+++ b/rest_framework/compat.py
@@ -127,14 +127,6 @@ except ImportError:
     pass
 
 
-def get_model_name(model_cls):
-    try:
-        return model_cls._meta.model_name
-    except AttributeError:
-        # < 1.6 used module_name instead of model_name
-        return model_cls._meta.module_name
-
-
 # MinValueValidator, MaxValueValidator et al. only accept `message` in 1.8+
 if django.VERSION >= (1, 8):
     from django.core.validators import MinValueValidator, MaxValueValidator
diff --git a/rest_framework/filters.py b/rest_framework/filters.py
index 90c19aba0..c1e0ae054 100644
--- a/rest_framework/filters.py
+++ b/rest_framework/filters.py
@@ -11,9 +11,7 @@ from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils import six
 
-from rest_framework.compat import (
-    distinct, django_filters, get_model_name, guardian
-)
+from rest_framework.compat import distinct, django_filters, guardian
 from rest_framework.settings import api_settings
 
 FilterSet = django_filters and django_filters.FilterSet or None
@@ -202,7 +200,7 @@ class DjangoObjectPermissionsFilter(BaseFilterBackend):
         model_cls = queryset.model
         kwargs = {
             'app_label': model_cls._meta.app_label,
-            'model_name': get_model_name(model_cls)
+            'model_name': model_cls._meta.model_name
         }
         permission = self.perm_format % kwargs
         if guardian.VERSION >= (1, 3):
diff --git a/rest_framework/permissions.py b/rest_framework/permissions.py
index 628538903..292952cfa 100644
--- a/rest_framework/permissions.py
+++ b/rest_framework/permissions.py
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.http import Http404
 
-from rest_framework.compat import get_model_name
-
 SAFE_METHODS = ('GET', 'HEAD', 'OPTIONS')
 
 
@@ -104,7 +102,7 @@ class DjangoModelPermissions(BasePermission):
         """
         kwargs = {
             'app_label': model_cls._meta.app_label,
-            'model_name': get_model_name(model_cls)
+            'model_name': model_cls._meta.model_name
         }
         return [perm % kwargs for perm in self.perms_map[method]]
 
@@ -166,7 +164,7 @@ class DjangoObjectPermissions(DjangoModelPermissions):
     def get_required_object_permissions(self, method, model_cls):
         kwargs = {
             'app_label': model_cls._meta.app_label,
-            'model_name': get_model_name(model_cls)
+            'model_name': model_cls._meta.model_name
         }
         return [perm % kwargs for perm in self.perms_map[method]]
 
diff --git a/tests/test_permissions.py b/tests/test_permissions.py
index ffc262a41..f0d77e957 100644
--- a/tests/test_permissions.py
+++ b/tests/test_permissions.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from rest_framework import (
     HTTP_HEADER_ENCODING, authentication, generics, permissions, serializers,
     status
 )
-from rest_framework.compat import get_model_name, guardian, unittest
+from rest_framework.compat import guardian, unittest
 from rest_framework.filters import DjangoObjectPermissionsFilter
 from rest_framework.routers import DefaultRouter
 from rest_framework.test import APIRequestFactory
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ class ObjectPermissionsIntegrationTests(TestCase):
 
         # give everyone model level permissions, as we are not testing those
         everyone = Group.objects.create(name='everyone')
-        model_name = get_model_name(BasicPermModel)
+        model_name = BasicPermModel._meta.model_name
         app_label = BasicPermModel._meta.app_label
         f = '{0}_{1}'.format
         perms = {