diff --git a/rest_framework/compat.py b/rest_framework/compat.py
index 0201bd830..6bc6434b7 100644
--- a/rest_framework/compat.py
+++ b/rest_framework/compat.py
@@ -102,6 +102,18 @@ def get_concrete_model(model_cls):
         return model_cls
 
 
+def set_rollback(transaction):
+    if hasattr(transaction, 'set_rollback'):
+        # If running in >=1.6 then mark a rollback as required,
+        # and allow it to be handled by Django.
+        transaction.set_rollback(True)
+    elif transaction.is_managed():
+        # Otherwise handle it explicitly if in managed mode.
+        if transaction.is_dirty():
+            transaction.rollback()
+        transaction.leave_transaction_management()
+
+
 # View._allowed_methods only present from 1.5 onwards
 if django.VERSION >= (1, 5):
     from django.views.generic import View
diff --git a/rest_framework/views.py b/rest_framework/views.py
index 292431c8a..9e971ed39 100644
--- a/rest_framework/views.py
+++ b/rest_framework/views.py
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@ Provides an APIView class that is the base of all views in REST framework.
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.core.exceptions import PermissionDenied
+from django.db import transaction
 from django.http import Http404
 from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt
 from rest_framework import status, exceptions
-from rest_framework.compat import smart_text, HttpResponseBase, View
+from rest_framework.compat import set_rollback, smart_text, HttpResponseBase, View
 from rest_framework.request import Request
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 from rest_framework.settings import api_settings
@@ -373,6 +374,8 @@ class APIView(View):
         if response is None:
             raise
 
+        # We've swallowed the exception, but we should mark it for rollback.
+        set_rollback(transaction)
         response.exception = True
         return response