diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/description.py b/rest_framework/tests/description.py
index 2c25dee10..9a3086b7a 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/description.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/description.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import unittest
-
 from django.test import TestCase
 from rest_framework.views import APIView
 from rest_framework.compat import apply_markdown
@@ -108,17 +106,17 @@ class TestViewNamesAndDescriptions(TestCase):
             pass
         self.assertEquals(MockView().get_description(), '')
 
-    @unittest.skipUnless(apply_markdown, 'markdown not installed')
     def test_markdown(self):
         """Ensure markdown to HTML works as expected"""
-        gte_21_match = apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION) == MARKED_DOWN_gte_21
-        lt_21_match = apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION) == MARKED_DOWN_lt_21
-        self.assertTrue(gte_21_match or lt_21_match)
+        if apply_markdown:
+            gte_21_match = apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION) == MARKED_DOWN_gte_21
+            lt_21_match = apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION) == MARKED_DOWN_lt_21
+            self.assertTrue(gte_21_match or lt_21_match)
 
-    @unittest.skipUnless(apply_restructuredtext, 'docutils not installed')
     def test_restructuredtext(self):
         """Ensure restructuredtext to HTML works as expected."""
-        # The output isn't tested verbatim because of small rendering changes
-        # between docutils versions.
-        self.assertTrue('<h3>another header</h3>'
-                        in apply_restructuredtext(DESCRIPTION))
+        if apply_restructuredtext:
+            # The output isn't tested verbatim because of small rendering changes
+            # between docutils versions.
+            self.assertTrue('<h3>another header</h3>'
+                            in apply_restructuredtext(DESCRIPTION))