diff --git a/rest_framework/mixins.py b/rest_framework/mixins.py
index de10d6930..993571b2b 100644
--- a/rest_framework/mixins.py
+++ b/rest_framework/mixins.py
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ class DestroyModelMixin(object):
     """
     def destroy(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         instance = self.get_object()
+        if not instance:
+            return Response(status=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND)
         self.perform_destroy(instance)
         return Response(status=status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT)