diff --git a/rest_framework/fields.py b/rest_framework/fields.py
index 73bd9e2bc..01812bd24 100644
--- a/rest_framework/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/fields.py
@@ -544,10 +544,13 @@ class HyperlinkedRelatedField(RelatedField):
 
         self.format = kwargs.pop('format', None)
 
-        self.use_absolute_urls = kwargs.pop('use_absolute_urls', self.parent.use_absolute_urls)
-
+        self.use_absolute_urls = kwargs.pop('use_absolute_urls', None)
         super(HyperlinkedRelatedField, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
+    def initialize(self, parent, field_name):
+        super(HyperlinkedRelatedField, self).initialize(parent, field_name)
+        self.use_absolute_urls = self.use_absolute_urls or self.parent.use_absolute_urls
+
     def get_slug_field(self):
         """
         Get the name of a slug field to be used to look up by slug.
@@ -655,10 +658,13 @@ class HyperlinkedIdentityField(Field):
         self.pk_url_kwarg = kwargs.pop('pk_url_kwarg', self.pk_url_kwarg)
         self.slug_url_kwarg = kwargs.pop('slug_url_kwarg', default_slug_kwarg)
 
-        self.use_absolute_urls = kwargs.pop('use_absolute_urls', self.parent.use_absolute_urls)
-
+        self.use_absolute_urls = kwargs.pop('use_absolute_urls', None)
         super(HyperlinkedIdentityField, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
+    def initialize(self, parent, field_name):
+        super(HyperlinkedIdentityField, self).initialize(parent, field_name)
+        self.use_absolute_urls = self.use_absolute_urls or self.parent.use_absolute_urls
+
     def field_to_native(self, obj, field_name):
         request = self.context.get('request', None)
         format = self.format or self.context.get('format', None)