diff --git a/rest_framework/fields.py b/rest_framework/fields.py
index bffc0fb05..e42a3af7b 100644
--- a/rest_framework/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/fields.py
@@ -570,17 +570,17 @@ class HyperlinkedRelatedField(RelatedField):
 
         kwargs = {self.slug_url_kwarg: slug}
         try:
-            return reverse(self.view_name, kwargs=kwargs, request=request, format=format)
+            return reverse(view_name, kwargs=kwargs, request=request, format=format)
         except:
             pass
 
         kwargs = {self.pk_url_kwarg: obj.pk, self.slug_url_kwarg: slug}
         try:
-            return reverse(self.view_name, kwargs=kwargs, request=request, format=format)
+            return reverse(view_name, kwargs=kwargs, request=request, format=format)
         except:
             pass
 
-        raise ValidationError('Could not resolve URL for field using view name "%s"', view_name)
+        raise ValidationError('Could not resolve URL for field using view name "%s"' % view_name)
 
     def from_native(self, value):
         # Convert URL -> model instance pk
@@ -640,9 +640,11 @@ class HyperlinkedIdentityField(Field):
     slug_url_kwarg = None  # Defaults to same as `slug_field` unless overridden
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        # TODO: Make view_name mandatory, and have the
-        # HyperlinkedModelSerializer set it on-the-fly
-        self.view_name = kwargs.pop('view_name', None)
+        try:
+            self.view_name = kwargs.pop('view_name')
+        except:
+            raise ValueError("Hyperlinked Identity field requires 'view_name' kwarg")
+        
         self.format = kwargs.pop('format', None)
 
         self.slug_field = kwargs.pop('slug_field', self.slug_field)
@@ -655,7 +657,7 @@ class HyperlinkedIdentityField(Field):
     def field_to_native(self, obj, field_name):
         request = self.context.get('request', None)
         format = self.format or self.context.get('format', None)
-        view_name = self.view_name or self.parent.opts.view_name
+        view_name = self.view_name
         kwargs = {self.pk_url_kwarg: obj.pk}
         try:
             return reverse(view_name, kwargs=kwargs, request=request, format=format)
@@ -669,13 +671,13 @@ class HyperlinkedIdentityField(Field):
 
         kwargs = {self.slug_url_kwarg: slug}
         try:
-            return reverse(self.view_name, kwargs=kwargs, request=request, format=format)
+            return reverse(view_name, kwargs=kwargs, request=request, format=format)
         except:
             pass
 
         kwargs = {self.pk_url_kwarg: obj.pk, self.slug_url_kwarg: slug}
         try:
-            return reverse(self.view_name, kwargs=kwargs, request=request, format=format)
+            return reverse(view_name, kwargs=kwargs, request=request, format=format)
         except:
             pass
 
diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index 13c41a4bd..adc9dae67 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from decimal import Decimal
 from django.db import models
 from django.forms import widgets
 from django.utils.datastructures import SortedDict
+from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 from rest_framework.compat import get_concrete_model
 
 # Note: We do the following so that users of the framework can use this style:
@@ -76,10 +77,34 @@ def _get_declared_fields(bases, attrs):
 
     return SortedDict(fields)
 
+def _get_options_instance(bases, attrs):
+    options_class = Meta = None
+    if '_options_class' in attrs:
+        options_class = attrs['_options_class']
+    else:
+        for base in bases:
+            if hasattr(base, '_options_class'):
+                options_class = getattr(base, '_options_class')
+                break
+        if options_class is None:
+            raise ImproperlyConfigured, 'A Serializer requires an "_options_class" attribute' 
+            
+    if 'Meta' in attrs:
+        Meta = attrs['Meta']
+    else:
+        for base in bases:
+            if hasattr(base, 'Meta'):
+                Meta = getattr(base, 'Meta')
+                break
+        if Meta is None:
+            raise ImproperlyConfigured, 'A Serializer requires an "Meta" attribute' 
+    
+    return options_class(Meta)
 
 class SerializerMetaclass(type):
     def __new__(cls, name, bases, attrs):
         attrs['base_fields'] = _get_declared_fields(bases, attrs)
+        attrs['opts'] = _get_options_instance(bases, attrs)
         return super(SerializerMetaclass, cls).__new__(cls, name, bases, attrs)
 
 
@@ -102,7 +127,6 @@ class BaseSerializer(Field):
 
     def __init__(self, instance=None, data=None, files=None, context=None, partial=False, **kwargs):
         super(BaseSerializer, self).__init__(**kwargs)
-        self.opts = self._options_class(self.Meta)
         self.parent = None
         self.root = None
         self.partial = partial
@@ -548,12 +572,14 @@ class HyperlinkedModelSerializer(ModelSerializer):
     _options_class = HyperlinkedModelSerializerOptions
     _default_view_name = '%(model_name)s-detail'
 
-    url = HyperlinkedIdentityField()
-
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super(HyperlinkedModelSerializer, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         if self.opts.view_name is None:
             self.opts.view_name = self._get_default_view_name(self.opts.model)
+        
+        if not 'url' in self.base_fields:
+            self.base_fields.insert(0, 'url', HyperlinkedIdentityField(view_name=self.opts.view_name))
+        
+        super(HyperlinkedModelSerializer, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def _get_default_view_name(self, model):
         """