diff --git a/django/db/models/base.py b/django/db/models/base.py
index 0d06ca5727..02c5398fb1 100644
--- a/django/db/models/base.py
+++ b/django/db/models/base.py
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ import sys
 import os
 from itertools import izip
 
-import django.db.models.manipulators
-import django.db.models.manager
+import django.db.models.manipulators    # Imported to register signal handler.
+import django.db.models.manager         # Ditto.
 from django.core import validators
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist, MultipleObjectsReturned, FieldError
 from django.db.models.fields import AutoField, ImageField, FieldDoesNotExist
@@ -59,9 +59,11 @@ class ModelBase(type):
                 if not hasattr(meta, 'get_latest_by'):
                     new_class._meta.get_latest_by = base_meta.get_latest_by
 
-        if getattr(new_class, '_default_manager', None) is not None:
-            # We have a parent who set the default manager. We need to override
-            # this.
+        old_default_mgr = None
+        if getattr(new_class, '_default_manager', None):
+            # We have a parent who set the default manager.
+            if new_class._default_manager.model._meta.abstract:
+                old_default_mgr = new_class._default_manager
             new_class._default_manager = None
         if getattr(new_class._meta, 'app_label', None) is None:
             # Figure out the app_label by looking one level up.
@@ -113,6 +115,8 @@ class ModelBase(type):
             new_class.Meta = attr_meta
             return new_class
 
+        if old_default_mgr and not new_class._default_manager:
+            new_class._default_manager = old_default_mgr._copy_to_model(new_class)
         new_class._prepare()
         register_models(new_class._meta.app_label, new_class)
 
diff --git a/django/db/models/manager.py b/django/db/models/manager.py
index 3a2efe84a8..1e2cd58850 100644
--- a/django/db/models/manager.py
+++ b/django/db/models/manager.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import copy
+
 from django.db.models.query import QuerySet, EmptyQuerySet, insert_query
 from django.dispatch import dispatcher
 from django.db.models import signals
@@ -5,7 +7,7 @@ from django.db.models.fields import FieldDoesNotExist
 
 def ensure_default_manager(sender):
     cls = sender
-    if not hasattr(cls, '_default_manager') or cls._default_manager is None:
+    if not getattr(cls, '_default_manager', None) and not cls._meta.abstract:
         # Create the default manager, if needed.
         try:
             cls._meta.get_field('objects')
@@ -31,9 +33,20 @@ class Manager(object):
         # TODO: Use weakref because of possible memory leak / circular reference.
         self.model = model
         setattr(model, name, ManagerDescriptor(self))
-        if not hasattr(model, '_default_manager') or model._default_manager is None or self.creation_counter < model._default_manager.creation_counter:
+        if not getattr(model, '_default_manager', None) or self.creation_counter < model._default_manager.creation_counter:
             model._default_manager = self
 
+    def _copy_to_model(self, model):
+        """
+        Makes a copy of the manager and assigns it to 'model', which should be
+        a child of the existing model (used when inheriting a manager from an
+        abstract base class).
+        """
+        assert issubclass(model, self.model)
+        mgr = copy.copy(self)
+        mgr.model = model
+        return mgr
+
     #######################
     # PROXIES TO QUERYSET #
     #######################