diff --git a/rest_framework/fields.py b/rest_framework/fields.py
index f9de7cf9b..a79f75c47 100644
--- a/rest_framework/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/fields.py
@@ -446,12 +446,23 @@ class CharField(WritableField):
 
     def __init__(self, max_length=None, min_length=None, *args, **kwargs):
         self.max_length, self.min_length = max_length, min_length
+        self.blank = kwargs.pop('blank', False)
         super(CharField, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         if min_length is not None:
             self.validators.append(validators.MinLengthValidator(min_length))
         if max_length is not None:
             self.validators.append(validators.MaxLengthValidator(max_length))
 
+    def validate(self, value):
+        """
+        Validates that the value is supplied (if required).
+        """
+        # if empty string and allow blank
+        if self.blank and not value:
+            return
+        else:
+            super(CharField, self).validate(value)
+
     def from_native(self, value):
         if isinstance(value, basestring) or value is None:
             return value
diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index ce04b3e20..2987c9fb5 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -405,6 +405,9 @@ class ModelSerializer(Serializer):
             kwargs['choices'] = model_field.flatchoices
             return ChoiceField(**kwargs)
 
+        if model_field.__class__ == models.TextField or model_field.__class__ == models.CharField:
+            kwargs['blank'] = model_field.blank
+
         field_mapping = {
             models.FloatField: FloatField,
             models.IntegerField: IntegerField,
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/models.py b/rest_framework/tests/models.py
index ac73a4bbb..6dda189b3 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/models.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/models.py
@@ -116,3 +116,7 @@ class BlogPost(RESTFrameworkModel):
 class BlogPostComment(RESTFrameworkModel):
     text = models.TextField()
     blog_post = models.ForeignKey(BlogPost)
+
+# Model for issue #324
+class BlankFieldModel(RESTFrameworkModel):
+    title = models.CharField(max_length=100, blank=True)
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/serializer.py b/rest_framework/tests/serializer.py
index 5df3bd7e0..c3a53b80f 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/serializer.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/serializer.py
@@ -436,3 +436,52 @@ class ManyRelatedTests(TestCase):
         }
 
         self.assertEqual(serializer.data, expected)
+
+
+# Test for issue #324
+class BlankFieldTests(TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+
+        class BlankFieldModelSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+             class Meta:
+                model = BlankFieldModel
+
+        class BlankFieldSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+            title = serializers.CharField(blank=True)
+
+        class NotBlankFieldModelSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+            class Meta:
+                model = BasicModel
+
+        class NotBlankFieldSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+            title = serializers.CharField()
+
+        self.model_serializer_class = BlankFieldModelSerializer
+        self.serializer_class = BlankFieldSerializer
+        self.not_blank_model_serializer_class = NotBlankFieldModelSerializer
+        self.not_blank_serializer_class = NotBlankFieldSerializer
+        self.data = {'title': ''}
+
+    def test_create_blank_field(self):
+        serializer = self.serializer_class(self.data)
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.is_valid(), True)
+
+    def test_create_model_blank_field(self):
+        serializer = self.model_serializer_class(self.data)
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.is_valid(), True)
+
+    def test_create_not_blank_field(self):
+        """
+        Test to ensure blank data in a field not marked as blank=True
+        is considered invalid in a non-model serializer
+        """
+        serializer = self.not_blank_serializer_class(self.data)
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.is_valid(), False)
+
+    def test_create_model_not_blank_field(self):
+        """
+        Test to ensure blank data in a field not marked as blank=True
+        is considered invalid in a model serializer
+        """
+        serializer = self.not_blank_model_serializer_class(self.data)
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.is_valid(), False)