diff --git a/django/views/generic/base.py b/django/views/generic/base.py
index f443cebfc0..6dfbc7a9da 100644
--- a/django/views/generic/base.py
+++ b/django/views/generic/base.py
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ class View(object):
 
         def view(request, *args, **kwargs):
             self = cls(**initkwargs)
+            if hasattr(self, 'get') and not hasattr(self, 'head'):
+                self.head = self.get
             return self.dispatch(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
         # take name and docstring from class
@@ -76,9 +78,6 @@ class View(object):
         )
         return http.HttpResponseNotAllowed(allowed_methods)
 
-    def head(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return self.get(*args, **kwargs)
-
 
 class TemplateResponseMixin(object):
     """
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/generic_views/base.py b/tests/regressiontests/generic_views/base.py
index d9debb6627..e7aeaf9cde 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/generic_views/base.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/generic_views/base.py
@@ -19,9 +19,15 @@ class SimplePostView(SimpleView):
     post = SimpleView.get
 
 
+class PostOnlyView(View):
+    def post(self, request):
+        return HttpResponse('This view only accepts POST')
+
+
 class CustomizableView(SimpleView):
     parameter = {}
 
+
 def decorator(view):
     view.is_decorated = True
     return view
@@ -102,12 +108,19 @@ class ViewTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_get_and_head(self):
         """
-        Test a view which supplies a GET method also responds correctly to HEAD
+        Test a view which supplies a GET method also responds correctly to HEAD.
         """
         self._assert_simple(SimpleView.as_view()(self.rf.get('/')))
         response = SimpleView.as_view()(self.rf.head('/'))
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
 
+    def test_head_no_get(self):
+        """
+        Test a view which supplies no GET method responds to HEAD with HTTP 405.
+        """
+        response = PostOnlyView.as_view()(self.rf.head('/'))
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 405)
+
     def test_get_and_post(self):
         """
         Test a view which only allows both GET and POST.