diff --git a/rest_framework/relations.py b/rest_framework/relations.py
index 308545ce9..3463954dc 100644
--- a/rest_framework/relations.py
+++ b/rest_framework/relations.py
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ class RelatedField(WritableField):
         super(RelatedField, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
         if not self.required:
+            # Accessed in ModelChoiceIterator django/forms/models.py:1034
+            # If set adds empty choice.
             self.empty_label = BLANK_CHOICE_DASH[0][1]
 
         self.queryset = queryset
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/test_relations.py b/rest_framework/tests/test_relations.py
index f52e0e1e5..37ac826b2 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/test_relations.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/test_relations.py
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 General tests for relational fields.
 """
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from django import get_version
 from django.db import models
 from django.test import TestCase
+from django.utils import unittest
 from rest_framework import serializers
 from rest_framework.tests.models import BlogPost
 
@@ -118,3 +120,25 @@ class RelatedFieldSourceTests(TestCase):
             (serializers.ModelSerializer,), attrs)
         with self.assertRaises(AttributeError):
             TestSerializer(data={'name': 'foo'})
+
+@unittest.skipIf(get_version() < '1.6.0', 'Upstream behaviour changed in v1.6')
+class RelatedFieldChoicesTests(TestCase):
+    """
+    Tests for #1408 "Web browseable API doesn't have blank option on drop down list box"
+    https://github.com/tomchristie/django-rest-framework/issues/1408
+    """
+    def test_blank_option_is_added_to_choice_if_required_equals_false(self):
+        """
+
+        """
+        post = BlogPost(title="Checking blank option is added")
+        post.save()
+
+        queryset = BlogPost.objects.all()
+        field = serializers.RelatedField(required=False, queryset=queryset)
+
+        choice_count = BlogPost.objects.count()
+        widget_count = len(field.widget.choices)
+
+        self.assertEqual(widget_count, choice_count + 1, 'BLANK_CHOICE_DASH option should have been added')
+