diff --git a/rest_framework/settings.py b/rest_framework/settings.py
index 8b4a896f3..7ff20743e 100644
--- a/rest_framework/settings.py
+++ b/rest_framework/settings.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ DEFAULTS = {
 
 # List of settings that may be in string import notation.
 IMPORT_STRINGS = [
-    "MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES",
+    "DEFAULT_MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES",
     "DEFAULT_RENDERER_CLASSES",
     "DEFAULT_PARSER_CLASSES",
     "DEFAULT_AUTHENTICATION_CLASSES",