diff --git a/django/db/models/base.py b/django/db/models/base.py
index a561b80979..ad7c97359e 100644
--- a/django/db/models/base.py
+++ b/django/db/models/base.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ except NameError:
 
 import django.db.models.manager     # Imported to register signal handler.
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist, MultipleObjectsReturned, FieldError
-from django.db.models.fields import AutoField
+from django.db.models.fields import AutoField, FieldDoesNotExist
 from django.db.models.fields.related import OneToOneRel, ManyToOneRel, OneToOneField
 from django.db.models.query import delete_objects, Q, CollectedObjects
 from django.db.models.options import Options
@@ -298,12 +298,19 @@ class Model(object):
 
     def serializable_value(self, field_name):
         """
-        Returns the value of the field name for this instance. If the field
-        is a foreign key, returns the id value, instead of the object.
+        Returns the value of the field name for this instance. If the field is
+        a foreign key, returns the id value, instead of the object. If there's
+        no Field object with this name on the model, the model attribute's
+        value is returned directly.
+
         Used to serialize a field's value (in the serializer, or form output,
-        for example).
+        for example). Normally, you would just access the attribute directly
+        and not use this method.
         """
-        field = self._meta.get_field_by_name(field_name)[0]
+        try:
+            field = self._meta.get_field_by_name(field_name)[0]
+        except FieldDoesNotExist:
+            return getattr(self, field_name)
         return getattr(self, field.attname)
 
     def save(self, force_insert=False, force_update=False):