diff --git a/django/core/serializers/python.py b/django/core/serializers/python.py
index c129c068df..0eeb485797 100644
--- a/django/core/serializers/python.py
+++ b/django/core/serializers/python.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def Deserializer(object_list, **options):
 
             # Handle FK fields
             elif field.rel and isinstance(field.rel, models.ManyToOneRel):
-                if field_value:
+                if field_value is not None:
                     data[field.attname] = field.rel.to._meta.get_field(field.rel.field_name).to_python(field_value)
                 else:
                     data[field.attname] = None
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/serializers_regress/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/serializers_regress/tests.py
index e49ab9de5c..6430c5b38d 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/serializers_regress/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/serializers_regress/tests.py
@@ -261,6 +261,10 @@ The end."""),
 
     (fk_obj, 460, FKDataToO2O, 300),
     
+    # Regression test for #8651 -- FK = 0
+    (data_obj, 0, Anchor, "Anchor 0"),
+    (fk_obj, 465, FKData, 0),
+    
     (im2m_obj, 470, M2MIntermediateData, None),
     
     #testing post- and prereferences and extra fields