diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index 43d339da0..bf978510b 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ class BaseSerializer(WritableField):
                 if not self._errors:
                     into.update(reverted_data)
         else:
-            if value in (None, ''):
+            if value in (None, '') and not self.many:
                 into[(self.source or field_name)] = None
             else:
                 # Set the serializer object if it exists
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/test_relations_nested.py b/rest_framework/tests/test_relations_nested.py
index 4d9da4896..ccc4b96a3 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/test_relations_nested.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/test_relations_nested.py
@@ -283,6 +283,13 @@ class ReverseNestedOneToManyTests(TestCase):
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
         self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {'sources': [{}, {}, {}, {'name': ['This field is required.']}]})
 
+    def test_one_to_many_create_with_empty_string(self):
+        data = {'id': 1, 'name': 'target-1', 'sources': ''}
+        instance = OneToManyTarget.objects.get(pk=1)
+        serializer = self.Serializer(instance, data=data)
+        self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {'sources': [{'non_field_errors': ['Expected a list of items.']}]})
+
     def test_one_to_many_update(self):
         data = {'id': 1, 'name': 'target-1-updated', 'sources': [{'id': 1, 'name': 'source-1-updated'},
                                                                  {'id': 2, 'name': 'source-2'},