diff --git a/django/core/checks/messages.py b/django/core/checks/messages.py
index bda3ff9a5c..2528d11def 100644
--- a/django/core/checks/messages.py
+++ b/django/core/checks/messages.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ CRITICAL = 50
 @python_2_unicode_compatible
 class CheckMessage(object):
 
-    def __init__(self, level, msg, hint, obj=None, id=None):
+    def __init__(self, level, msg, hint=None, obj=None, id=None):
         assert isinstance(level, int), "The first argument should be level."
         self.level = level
         self.msg = msg
diff --git a/docs/topics/checks.txt b/docs/topics/checks.txt
index cf262811e6..aabebd1db2 100644
--- a/docs/topics/checks.txt
+++ b/docs/topics/checks.txt
@@ -78,12 +78,8 @@ Constructor arguments are:
 
 ``hint``
     A single-line string providing a hint for fixing the problem. If no hint
-    can be provided, or the hint is self-evident from the error message, a
-    value of ``None`` can be used::
-
-        Error('error message') # Will not work.
-        Error('error message', None) # Good
-        Error('error message', hint=None) # Better
+    can be provided, or the hint is self-evident from the error message, the
+    hint can be omitted, or a value of ``None`` can be used.
 
 ``obj``
     Optional. An object providing context for the message (for example, the