diff --git a/rest_framework/renderers.py b/rest_framework/renderers.py
index 880d1dc4f..fe5f92f7c 100644
--- a/rest_framework/renderers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/renderers.py
@@ -88,6 +88,13 @@ class JSONRenderer(BaseRenderer):
         """
         Render `data` into JSON, returning a bytestring.
         """
+        response = None
+        if renderer_context:
+            response = renderer_context.get('response', None)
+
+        if response is not None and response.status_code == 204:
+            return b''
+
         renderer_context = renderer_context or {}
         indent = self.get_indent(accepted_media_type, renderer_context)