diff --git a/rest_framework/compat.py b/rest_framework/compat.py
index c6a4a8698..6a7c3035c 100644
--- a/rest_framework/compat.py
+++ b/rest_framework/compat.py
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ try:
         of '#' style headers to <h2>.
         """
 
-        extensions = ['headerid(level=2)']
+        extensions = settings.MARKDOWN_EXTENSIONS
         safe_mode = False
         md = markdown.Markdown(extensions=extensions, safe_mode=safe_mode)
         return md.convert(text)
diff --git a/rest_framework/settings.py b/rest_framework/settings.py
index 394b12622..84ebc747f 100644
--- a/rest_framework/settings.py
+++ b/rest_framework/settings.py
@@ -117,7 +117,10 @@ DEFAULTS = {
     'UNICODE_JSON': True,
     'COMPACT_JSON': True,
     'COERCE_DECIMAL_TO_STRING': True,
-    'UPLOADED_FILES_USE_URL': True
+    'UPLOADED_FILES_USE_URL': True,
+
+    # Markdown
+    'MARKDOWN_EXTENSIONS': ['headerid(level=2)']
 }