diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index e27610178..5ee6cd888 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -1236,7 +1236,11 @@ class ModelSerializer(Serializer):
         Create a read only field for model methods and properties.
         """
         field_class = ReadOnlyField
-        field_kwargs = {}
+        func = getattr(model_class, field_name)
+        if func.__doc__:
+            field_kwargs = {'help_text': func.__doc__}
+        else:
+            field_kwargs = {}
 
         return field_class, field_kwargs
 
diff --git a/tests/test_model_serializer.py b/tests/test_model_serializer.py
index 4aa0fa35e..044a96d96 100644
--- a/tests/test_model_serializer.py
+++ b/tests/test_model_serializer.py
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ class RegularFieldsModel(models.Model):
     def method(self):
         return 'method'
 
+    def docstring_method(self):
+        """test"""
+        return 'method'
+
 
 COLOR_CHOICES = (('red', 'Red'), ('blue', 'Blue'), ('green', 'Green'))
 DECIMAL_CHOICES = (('low', decimal.Decimal('0.1')), ('medium', decimal.Decimal('0.5')), ('high', decimal.Decimal('0.9')))
@@ -223,12 +227,13 @@ class TestRegularFieldMappings(TestCase):
         class TestSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
             class Meta:
                 model = RegularFieldsModel
-                fields = ('auto_field', 'method')
+                fields = ('auto_field', 'method', 'docstring_method')
 
         expected = dedent("""
             TestSerializer():
                 auto_field = IntegerField(read_only=True)
                 method = ReadOnlyField()
+                docstring_method = ReadOnlyField(help_text='test')
         """)
         self.assertEqual(repr(TestSerializer()), expected)