1 files changed, 8 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/rest_framework/settings.py b/rest_framework/settings.py
index da647658..906a7cf6 100644
--- a/rest_framework/settings.py
+++ b/rest_framework/settings.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ DEFAULTS = {
         'anon': None,
     },
     'PAGINATE_BY': None,
-    'FILTER_BACKEND': 'rest_framework.filters.DjangoFilterBackend',
+    'FILTER_BACKEND': None,
 
     'UNAUTHENTICATED_USER': 'django.contrib.auth.models.AnonymousUser',
     'UNAUTHENTICATED_TOKEN': None,
@@ -144,8 +144,15 @@ class APISettings(object):
         if val and attr in self.import_strings:
             val = perform_import(val, attr)
 
+        self.validate_setting(attr, val)
+
         # Cache the result
         setattr(self, attr, val)
         return val
 
+    def validate_setting(self, attr, val):
+        if attr == 'FILTER_BACKEND' and val is not None:
+            # Make sure we can initilize the class
+            val()
+
 api_settings = APISettings(USER_SETTINGS, DEFAULTS, IMPORT_STRINGS)