diff --git a/docs/api-guide/generic-views.md b/docs/api-guide/generic-views.md
index dc0076dff..24fc0bc71 100755
--- a/docs/api-guide/generic-views.md
+++ b/docs/api-guide/generic-views.md
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ The following attributes control the basic view behavior.
 
 * `queryset` - The queryset that should be used for returning objects from this view.  Typically, you must either set this attribute, or override the `get_queryset()` method.
 * `serializer_class` - The serializer class that should be used for validating and deserializing input, and for serializing output.  Typically, you must either set this attribute, or override the `get_serializer_class()` method.
-* `lookup_field` - The field that should be used to lookup individual model instances.  Defaults to `'pk'`.  The URL conf should include a keyword argument corresponding to this value.  More complex lookup styles can be supported by overriding the `get_object()` method.  Note that when using hyperlinked APIs you'll need to ensure that *both* the API views *and* the serializer classes use lookup fields that correctly correspond with the URL conf.
+* `lookup_field` - The model field that should be used to for performing object lookup of individual model instances.  Defaults to `'pk'`.  Note that when using hyperlinked APIs you'll need to ensure that *both* the API views *and* the serializer classes set the lookup fields if you need to use a custom value.
+* `lookup_url_kwarg` - The URL keyword argument that should be used for object lookup.  The URL conf should include a keyword argument corresponding to this value.  If unset this defaults to using the same value as `lookup_field`.
 
 **Shortcuts**:
 
diff --git a/rest_framework/generics.py b/rest_framework/generics.py
index 4f134bce6..f46dea762 100644
--- a/rest_framework/generics.py
+++ b/rest_framework/generics.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class GenericAPIView(views.APIView):
     # If you want to use object lookups other than pk, set this attribute.
     # For more complex lookup requirements override `get_object()`.
     lookup_field = 'pk'
+    lookup_url_kwarg = None
 
     # Pagination settings
     paginate_by = api_settings.PAGINATE_BY
@@ -278,9 +279,11 @@ class GenericAPIView(views.APIView):
             pass  # Deprecation warning
 
         # Perform the lookup filtering.
+        # Note that `pk` and `slug` are deprecated styles of lookup filtering.
+        lookup_url_kwarg = self.lookup_url_kwarg or self.lookup_field
+        lookup = self.kwargs.get(lookup_url_kwarg, None)
         pk = self.kwargs.get(self.pk_url_kwarg, None)
         slug = self.kwargs.get(self.slug_url_kwarg, None)
-        lookup = self.kwargs.get(self.lookup_field, None)
 
         if lookup is not None:
             filter_kwargs = {self.lookup_field: lookup}