diff --git a/rest_framework/viewsets.py b/rest_framework/viewsets.py
index a9dc632ff..70fe72f84 100644
--- a/rest_framework/viewsets.py
+++ b/rest_framework/viewsets.py
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ class ViewSetMixin(object):
                 handler = getattr(self, action)
                 setattr(self, method, handler)
 
+            if hasattr(self, 'get') and not hasattr(self, 'head'):
+                self.head = self.get
+
             # And continue as usual
             return self.dispatch(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_generics.py b/tests/test_generics.py
index 59278572e..655bcf325 100644
--- a/tests/test_generics.py
+++ b/tests/test_generics.py
@@ -101,6 +101,15 @@ class TestRootView(TestCase):
         assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
         assert response.data == self.data
 
+    def test_head_root_view(self):
+        """
+        HEAD requests to ListCreateAPIView should return 200.
+        """
+        request = factory.head('/')
+        with self.assertNumQueries(1):
+            response = self.view(request).render()
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+
     def test_post_root_view(self):
         """
         POST requests to ListCreateAPIView should create a new object.
diff --git a/tests/test_viewsets.py b/tests/test_viewsets.py
index a3c4e6be5..78ad24dea 100644
--- a/tests/test_viewsets.py
+++ b/tests/test_viewsets.py
@@ -24,6 +24,15 @@ class InitializeViewSetsTestCase(TestCase):
         assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
         assert response.data == {'ACTION': 'LIST'}
 
+    def testhead_request_against_viewset(self):
+        request = factory.head('/', '', content_type='application/json')
+        my_view = BasicViewSet.as_view(actions={
+            'get': 'list',
+        })
+
+        response = my_view(request)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+
     def test_initialize_view_set_with_empty_actions(self):
         try:
             BasicViewSet.as_view()