diff --git a/django/db/models/base.py b/django/db/models/base.py
index 2c05009823..ce8dda204a 100644
--- a/django/db/models/base.py
+++ b/django/db/models/base.py
@@ -352,20 +352,25 @@ class Model(object):
         only module-level classes can be pickled by the default path.
         """
         data = self.__dict__
-        if not self._deferred:
-            return super(Model, self).__reduce__()
+        model = self.__class__
+        # The obvious thing to do here is to invoke super().__reduce__()
+        # for the non-deferred case. Don't do that.
+        # On Python 2.4, there is something wierd with __reduce__,
+        # and as a result, the super call will cause an infinite recursion.
+        # See #10547 and #12121.
         defers = []
         pk_val = None
-        for field in self._meta.fields:
-            if isinstance(self.__class__.__dict__.get(field.attname),
-                    DeferredAttribute):
-                defers.append(field.attname)
-                if pk_val is None:
-                    # The pk_val and model values are the same for all
-                    # DeferredAttribute classes, so we only need to do this
-                    # once.
-                    obj = self.__class__.__dict__[field.attname]
-                    model = obj.model_ref()
+        if self._deferred:
+            for field in self._meta.fields:
+                if isinstance(self.__class__.__dict__.get(field.attname),
+                        DeferredAttribute):
+                    defers.append(field.attname)
+                    if pk_val is None:
+                        # The pk_val and model values are the same for all
+                        # DeferredAttribute classes, so we only need to do this
+                        # once.
+                        obj = self.__class__.__dict__[field.attname]
+                        model = obj.model_ref()
 
         return (model_unpickle, (model, defers), data)