diff --git a/rest_framework/utils/formatting.py b/rest_framework/utils/formatting.py
index 67aabd3f1..ca5b33c5e 100644
--- a/rest_framework/utils/formatting.py
+++ b/rest_framework/utils/formatting.py
@@ -32,13 +32,22 @@ def dedent(content):
     unindented text on the initial line.
     """
     content = force_text(content)
-    whitespace_counts = [len(line) - len(line.lstrip(' '))
-                         for line in content.splitlines()[1:] if line.lstrip()]
+    whitespace_counts = [
+        len(line) - len(line.lstrip(' '))
+        for line in content.splitlines()[1:] if line.lstrip()
+    ]
+    tab_counts = [
+        len(line) - len(line.lstrip('\t'))
+        for line in content.splitlines()[1:] if line.lstrip()
+    ]
 
     # unindent the content if needed
     if whitespace_counts:
         whitespace_pattern = '^' + (' ' * min(whitespace_counts))
         content = re.sub(re.compile(whitespace_pattern, re.MULTILINE), '', content)
+    elif tab_counts:
+        whitespace_pattern = '^' + ('\t' * min(whitespace_counts))
+        content = re.sub(re.compile(whitespace_pattern, re.MULTILINE), '', content)
 
     return content.strip()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_description.py b/tests/test_description.py
index 1683e106b..fcb88287b 100644
--- a/tests/test_description.py
+++ b/tests/test_description.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from django.test import TestCase
 from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
 
 from rest_framework.compat import apply_markdown
+from rest_framework.utils.formatting import dedent
 from rest_framework.views import APIView
 
 
@@ -120,3 +121,7 @@ class TestViewNamesAndDescriptions(TestCase):
             gte_21_match = apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION) == MARKED_DOWN_gte_21
             lt_21_match = apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION) == MARKED_DOWN_lt_21
             self.assertTrue(gte_21_match or lt_21_match)
+
+
+def test_dedent_tabs():
+    assert dedent("\tfirst string\n\n\tsecond string") == 'first string\n\n\tsecond string'