diff --git a/rest_framework/renderers.py b/rest_framework/renderers.py
index 14a371852..880d1dc4f 100644
--- a/rest_framework/renderers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/renderers.py
@@ -88,9 +88,6 @@ class JSONRenderer(BaseRenderer):
         """
         Render `data` into JSON, returning a bytestring.
         """
-        if data is None:
-            return bytes()
-
         renderer_context = renderer_context or {}
         indent = self.get_indent(accepted_media_type, renderer_context)