diff --git a/rest_framework/fields.py b/rest_framework/fields.py
index da588082c..903c384e3 100644
--- a/rest_framework/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/fields.py
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ class ChoiceField(WritableField):
                     if value == smart_unicode(k2):
                         return True
             else:
-                if value == smart_unicode(k):
+                if value == smart_unicode(k) or value == k:
                     return True
         return False