diff --git a/tests/test_issue2954.py b/tests/test_issue2954.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..028cc74ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_issue2954.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+from django.db import models
+from django.test import TestCase
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
+from rest_framework import serializers
+from rest_framework import viewsets
+from rest_framework.test import APIRequestFactory
+from rest_framework import status
+
+
+factory = APIRequestFactory()
+
+
+class TestInvalidModel(TestCase):
+
+    def test_invalid_model(self):
+        """
+        """
+        class InvalidModel(models.Model):
+            afield = models.CharField(blank=True, max_length=10)
+
+            def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
+                # never save this object.
+                raise ValidationError('a validation error')
+
+        class TestSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+            class Meta:
+                model = InvalidModel
+
+        serializer = TestSerializer(data={'afield': 'foo'})
+        serializer.is_valid()
+        self.assertRaises(ValidationError, serializer.save)
+
+        class TestModelViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
+            serializer_class = TestSerializer
+            queryset = InvalidModel.objects.all()
+
+        request = factory.post('/', '{"afield": "foo"}', content_type='application/json')
+        view = TestModelViewSet.as_view(actions={'post': 'create'})
+        response = view(request)
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)