diff --git a/rest_framework/routers.py b/rest_framework/routers.py
index 2010a1138..f4d2fab38 100644
--- a/rest_framework/routers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/routers.py
@@ -278,7 +278,12 @@ class SimpleRouter(BaseRouter):
                 if not prefix and regex[:2] == '^/':
                     regex = '^' + regex[2:]
 
-                view = viewset.as_view(mapping, **route.initkwargs)
+                initkwargs = route.initkwargs.copy()
+                initkwargs.update({
+                    'basename': basename,
+                })
+
+                view = viewset.as_view(mapping, **initkwargs)
                 name = route.name.format(basename=basename)
                 ret.append(url(regex, view, name=name))
 
diff --git a/rest_framework/viewsets.py b/rest_framework/viewsets.py
index 7f3c550a9..cf5f35af6 100644
--- a/rest_framework/viewsets.py
+++ b/rest_framework/viewsets.py
@@ -46,10 +46,14 @@ class ViewSetMixin(object):
         instantiated view, we need to totally reimplement `.as_view`,
         and slightly modify the view function that is created and returned.
         """
-        # The suffix initkwarg is reserved for identifying the viewset type
+        # The suffix initkwarg is reserved for displaying the viewset type.
         # eg. 'List' or 'Instance'.
         cls.suffix = None
 
+        # Setting a basename allows a view to reverse its action urls. This
+        # value is provided by the router through the initkwargs.
+        cls.basename = None
+
         # actions must not be empty
         if not actions:
             raise TypeError("The `actions` argument must be provided when "