diff --git a/rest_framework/relations.py b/rest_framework/relations.py
index 3ad16ee5e..35c00bf1d 100644
--- a/rest_framework/relations.py
+++ b/rest_framework/relations.py
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ class PrimaryKeyRelatedField(RelatedField):
             # RelatedObject (reverse relationship)
             try:
                 pk = getattr(obj, self.source or field_name).pk
-            except ObjectDoesNotExist:
+            except (ObjectDoesNotExist, AttributeError):
                 return None
 
         # Forward relationship
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/test_relations_pk.py b/rest_framework/tests/test_relations_pk.py
index e2a1b8152..3815afdd8 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/test_relations_pk.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/test_relations_pk.py
@@ -283,6 +283,15 @@ class PKForeignKeyTests(TestCase):
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
         self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {'target': ['This field is required.']})
 
+    def test_foreign_key_with_empty(self):
+        """
+        Regression test for #1072
+
+        https://github.com/tomchristie/django-rest-framework/issues/1072
+        """
+        serializer = NullableForeignKeySourceSerializer()
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.data['target'], None)
+
 
 class PKNullableForeignKeyTests(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):