diff --git a/rest_framework/mixins.py b/rest_framework/mixins.py
index d391755c7..e3c7cf037 100644
--- a/rest_framework/mixins.py
+++ b/rest_framework/mixins.py
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@ class CreateModelMixin(object):
     def create(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         serializer = self.get_serializer(data=request.DATA)
         if serializer.is_valid():
-            self.object = serializer.object
-            self.object.save()
+            self.object = serializer.save()
             return Response(serializer.data, status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED)
         return Response(serializer.errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
 
@@ -75,8 +74,7 @@ class UpdateModelMixin(object):
         self.object = self.get_object()
         serializer = self.get_serializer(data=request.DATA, instance=self.object)
         if serializer.is_valid():
-            self.object = serializer.object
-            self.object.save()
+            self.object = serializer.save()
             return Response(serializer.data)
         return Response(serializer.errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
 
diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index 5935bce53..683b9efc8 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -275,6 +275,13 @@ class BaseSerializer(Field):
             self._data = self.to_native(self.object)
         return self._data
 
+    def save(self):
+        """
+        Save the deserialized object and return it.
+        """
+        self.object.save()
+        return self.object
+
 
 class Serializer(BaseSerializer):
     __metaclass__ = SerializerMetaclass
@@ -379,3 +386,10 @@ class ModelSerializer(RelatedField, Serializer):
             if field.name in attrs:
                 m2m_data[field.name] = attrs.pop(field.name)
         return DeserializedObject(self.opts.model(**attrs), m2m_data)
+
+    def save(self):
+        """
+        Save the deserialized object and return it.
+        """
+        self.object.save()
+        return self.object.object
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/serializer.py b/rest_framework/tests/serializer.py
index 7de79f957..b7a9ae99a 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/serializer.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/serializer.py
@@ -135,10 +135,10 @@ class ManyToManyTests(TestCase):
         data = {'rel': [self.anchor.id]}
         serializer = self.serializer_class(data)
         self.assertEquals(serializer.is_valid(), True)
-        serializer.object.save()
-        obj = serializer.object.object
-        self.assertEquals(obj.pk, 2)
-        self.assertEquals(list(obj.rel.all()), [self.anchor])
+        instance = serializer.save()
+        self.assertEquals(len(ManyToManyModel.objects.all()), 2)
+        self.assertEquals(instance.pk, 2)
+        self.assertEquals(list(instance.rel.all()), [self.anchor])
         # self.assertFalse(serializer.object is expected)
 
     # def test_deserialization_for_update(self):