diff --git a/rest_framework/schemas/openapi.py b/rest_framework/schemas/openapi.py
index 7b951c6eb..0af7510cd 100644
--- a/rest_framework/schemas/openapi.py
+++ b/rest_framework/schemas/openapi.py
@@ -465,6 +465,13 @@ class AutoSchema(ViewInspector):
 
     def _get_responses(self, path, method):
         # TODO: Handle multiple codes and pagination classes.
+        if method == 'DELETE':
+            return {
+                '204': {
+                    'description': ''
+                }
+            }
+
         item_schema = {}
         serializer = self._get_serializer(path, method)
 
@@ -485,13 +492,6 @@ class AutoSchema(ViewInspector):
         else:
             response_schema = item_schema
 
-        if method == 'DELETE':
-            return {
-                '204': {
-                    'description': ''
-                }
-            }
-
         return {
             '200': {
                 'content': {