diff --git a/rest_framework/fields.py b/rest_framework/fields.py
index 6be633dba..926195be0 100644
--- a/rest_framework/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/fields.py
@@ -761,11 +761,6 @@ class DecimalField(WritableField):
             raise ValidationError(self.error_messages['invalid'])
         return value
 
-    def to_native(self, value):
-        if value is not None:
-            return str(value)
-        return value
-
     def validate(self, value):
         super(DecimalField, self).validate(value)
         if value in validators.EMPTY_VALUES:
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/fields.py b/rest_framework/tests/fields.py
index 597180b44..3cdfa0f62 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/fields.py
@@ -559,8 +559,8 @@ class DecimalFieldTest(TestCase):
         result_1 = f.to_native(Decimal('9000'))
         result_2 = f.to_native(Decimal('1.00000001'))
 
-        self.assertEqual('9000', result_1)
-        self.assertEqual('1.00000001', result_2)
+        self.assertEqual(Decimal('9000'), result_1)
+        self.assertEqual(Decimal('1.00000001'), result_2)
 
     def test_to_native_none(self):
         """