diff --git a/django/db/models/fields/related_descriptors.py b/django/db/models/fields/related_descriptors.py
index 2398b166bb..e9caa2680f 100644
--- a/django/db/models/fields/related_descriptors.py
+++ b/django/db/models/fields/related_descriptors.py
@@ -376,14 +376,24 @@ class ReverseOneToOneDescriptor(object):
 
         # If null=True, we can assign null here, but otherwise the value needs
         # to be an instance of the related class.
-        if value is None and self.related.field.null is False:
-            raise ValueError(
-                'Cannot assign None: "%s.%s" does not allow null values.' % (
-                    instance._meta.object_name,
-                    self.related.get_accessor_name(),
+        if value is None:
+            if self.related.field.null:
+                # Update the cached related instance (if any) & clear the cache.
+                try:
+                    rel_obj = getattr(instance, self.cache_name)
+                except AttributeError:
+                    pass
+                else:
+                    delattr(instance, self.cache_name)
+                    setattr(rel_obj, self.related.field.name, None)
+            else:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    'Cannot assign None: "%s.%s" does not allow null values.' % (
+                        instance._meta.object_name,
+                        self.related.get_accessor_name(),
+                    )
                 )
-            )
-        elif value is not None and not isinstance(value, self.related.related_model):
+        elif not isinstance(value, self.related.related_model):
             raise ValueError(
                 'Cannot assign "%r": "%s.%s" must be a "%s" instance.' % (
                     value,
@@ -392,7 +402,7 @@ class ReverseOneToOneDescriptor(object):
                     self.related.related_model._meta.object_name,
                 )
             )
-        elif value is not None:
+        else:
             if instance._state.db is None:
                 instance._state.db = router.db_for_write(instance.__class__, instance=value)
             elif value._state.db is None:
@@ -401,18 +411,18 @@ class ReverseOneToOneDescriptor(object):
                 if not router.allow_relation(value, instance):
                     raise ValueError('Cannot assign "%r": the current database router prevents this relation.' % value)
 
-        related_pk = tuple(getattr(instance, field.attname) for field in self.related.field.foreign_related_fields)
-        # Set the value of the related field to the value of the related object's related field
-        for index, field in enumerate(self.related.field.local_related_fields):
-            setattr(value, field.attname, related_pk[index])
+            related_pk = tuple(getattr(instance, field.attname) for field in self.related.field.foreign_related_fields)
+            # Set the value of the related field to the value of the related object's related field
+            for index, field in enumerate(self.related.field.local_related_fields):
+                setattr(value, field.attname, related_pk[index])
 
-        # Set the related instance cache used by __get__ to avoid a SQL query
-        # when accessing the attribute we just set.
-        setattr(instance, self.cache_name, value)
+            # Set the related instance cache used by __get__ to avoid a SQL query
+            # when accessing the attribute we just set.
+            setattr(instance, self.cache_name, value)
 
-        # Set the forward accessor cache on the related object to the current
-        # instance to avoid an extra SQL query if it's accessed later on.
-        setattr(value, self.related.field.get_cache_name(), instance)
+            # Set the forward accessor cache on the related object to the current
+            # instance to avoid an extra SQL query if it's accessed later on.
+            setattr(value, self.related.field.get_cache_name(), instance)
 
 
 class ReverseManyToOneDescriptor(object):
diff --git a/tests/one_to_one/tests.py b/tests/one_to_one/tests.py
index 25d20dc2c9..ee5d7415e3 100644
--- a/tests/one_to_one/tests.py
+++ b/tests/one_to_one/tests.py
@@ -186,6 +186,22 @@ class OneToOneTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(self.p1.restaurant, self.r1)
         self.assertEqual(self.p1.bar, self.b1)
 
+    def test_assign_none_reverse_relation(self):
+        p = Place.objects.get(name="Demon Dogs")
+        # Assigning None succeeds if field is null=True.
+        ug_bar = UndergroundBar.objects.create(place=p, serves_cocktails=False)
+        p.undergroundbar = None
+        self.assertIsNone(ug_bar.place)
+        ug_bar.save()
+        ug_bar.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertIsNone(ug_bar.place)
+
+    def test_assign_none_null_reverse_relation(self):
+        p = Place.objects.get(name="Demon Dogs")
+        # Assigning None doesn't throw AttributeError if there isn't a related
+        # UndergroundBar.
+        p.undergroundbar = None
+
     def test_related_object_cache(self):
         """ Regression test for #6886 (the related-object cache) """