diff --git a/rest_framework/relations.py b/rest_framework/relations.py
index 4d3bdba1d..c23554882 100644
--- a/rest_framework/relations.py
+++ b/rest_framework/relations.py
@@ -408,7 +408,8 @@ class HyperlinkedIdentityField(HyperlinkedRelatedField):
 
     def __init__(self, view_name=None, **kwargs):
         assert view_name is not None, 'The `view_name` argument is required.'
-        kwargs['read_only'] = True
+        if 'read_only' not in kwargs:
+            kwargs['read_only'] = True
         kwargs['source'] = '*'
         super(HyperlinkedIdentityField, self).__init__(view_name, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index a4b51ae9d..ed4641c75 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -469,7 +469,10 @@ class Serializer(BaseSerializer):
             except SkipField:
                 pass
             else:
-                set_value(ret, field.source_attrs, validated_value)
+                if field.source_attrs != [] or field.source == "*":
+                    set_value(ret, field.source_attrs, validated_value)
+                else:
+                    set_value(ret, [field.field_name, ], primitive_value)
 
         if errors:
             raise ValidationError(errors)