diff --git a/docs/topics/browser-enhancements.md b/docs/topics/browser-enhancements.md
index 8b1914231..ce07fe95b 100644
--- a/docs/topics/browser-enhancements.md
+++ b/docs/topics/browser-enhancements.md
@@ -21,11 +21,9 @@ For example, given the following form:
 
 ## HTTP header based method overriding
 
-REST framework also supports method overriding via the `X-HTTP-Method-Override` 
-header. This is useful if you are working with non-form content such as
-JSON and are working with an older web server and/or hosting provider 
-(e.g. [Amazon Web Services ELB][aws_elb]) that doesn't recognise particular 
-HTTP methods such as `PATCH`. 
+REST framework also supports method overriding via the semi-standard `X-HTTP-Method-Override` header. This can be useful if you are working with non-form content such as JSON and are working with an older web server and/or hosting provider that doesn't recognise particular HTTP methods such as `PATCH`. For example [Amazon Web Services ELB][aws_elb].
+
+To use it, make a `POST` request, setting the `X-HTTP-Method-Override` header.
 
 For example, making a `PATCH` request via `POST` in jQuery:
 
diff --git a/rest_framework/request.py b/rest_framework/request.py
index f26d934d7..ffbbab338 100644
--- a/rest_framework/request.py
+++ b/rest_framework/request.py
@@ -233,11 +233,14 @@ class Request(object):
                                            self.META.get('CONTENT_TYPE', ''))
 
         self._perform_form_overloading()
+
         if not _hasattr(self, '_method'):
-            # Method wasn't overloaded by hidden form element, so look for 
-            # method override in header. If not present default to raw HTTP method
-            self._method = self.META.get('HTTP_X_HTTP_METHOD_OVERRIDE', 
-                                         self._request.method)
+            self._method = self._request.method
+
+            if self._method == 'POST':
+                # Allow X-HTTP-METHOD-OVERRIDE header
+                self._method = self.META.get('HTTP_X_HTTP_METHOD_OVERRIDE',
+                                             self._method)
 
     def _load_stream(self):
         """