diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index a63c7f6c2..778e72d1a 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class BaseSerializer(WritableField):
 
         self.context = context or {}
 
-        self.init_data = data
+        self.init_data = data or {}
         self.init_files = files
         self.object = instance
         self.fields = self.get_fields()
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/test_files.py b/rest_framework/tests/test_files.py
index c13c38b86..127e379e9 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/test_files.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/test_files.py
@@ -80,3 +80,16 @@ class FileSerializerTests(TestCase):
         serializer = UploadedFileSerializer(data={'created': now, 'file': 'abc'})
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
         self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {'file': [errmsg]})
+
+    def test_validation_with_no_data(self):
+        """
+        Validation should still function when no data dictionary is provided.
+        """
+        now = datetime.datetime.now()
+        file = BytesIO(six.b('stuff'))
+        file.name = 'stuff.txt'
+        file.size = len(file.getvalue())
+        uploaded_file = UploadedFile(file=file, created=now)
+
+        serializer = UploadedFileSerializer(files={'file': file})
+        self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
\ No newline at end of file