diff --git a/rest_framework/views.py b/rest_framework/views.py
index 8141a6550..ca91d19d2 100644
--- a/rest_framework/views.py
+++ b/rest_framework/views.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class APIView(View):
         """
         if isinstance(getattr(cls, 'queryset', None), models.query.QuerySet):
             def force_evaluation():
-                raise AssertionError(
+                raise RuntimeError(
                     'Do not evaluate the `.queryset` attribute directly, '
                     'as the result will be cached and reused between requests. '
                     'Use `.all()` or call `.get_queryset()` instead.'
diff --git a/tests/test_generics.py b/tests/test_generics.py
index 5db0b6f71..000adffa7 100644
--- a/tests/test_generics.py
+++ b/tests/test_generics.py
@@ -541,5 +541,5 @@ class TestGuardedQueryset(TestCase):
 
         view = QuerysetAccessError.as_view()
         request = factory.get('/')
-        with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
+        with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
             view(request).render()