diff --git a/django/db/models/fields/files.py b/django/db/models/fields/files.py
index ce76a14a7c..878d09c976 100644
--- a/django/db/models/fields/files.py
+++ b/django/db/models/fields/files.py
@@ -213,6 +213,10 @@ class FileField(Field):
     def generate_filename(self, instance, filename):
         return os.path.join(self.get_directory_name(), self.get_filename(filename))
 
+    def save_form_data(self, instance, data):
+        if data:
+            setattr(instance, self.name, data)
+
     def formfield(self, **kwargs):
         defaults = {'form_class': forms.FileField}
         # If a file has been provided previously, then the form doesn't require
diff --git a/tests/modeltests/model_forms/models.py b/tests/modeltests/model_forms/models.py
index a202185ec6..6ef44d909b 100644
--- a/tests/modeltests/model_forms/models.py
+++ b/tests/modeltests/model_forms/models.py
@@ -1030,6 +1030,18 @@ True
 >>> instance.file
 <FieldFile: tests/test3.txt>
 
+# Instance can be edited w/out re-uploading the file and existing file should be preserved.
+
+>>> f = TextFileForm(data={'description': u'New Description'}, instance=instance)
+>>> f.fields['file'].required = False
+>>> f.is_valid()
+True
+>>> instance = f.save()
+>>> instance.description
+u'New Description'
+>>> instance.file
+<FieldFile: tests/test3.txt>
+
 # Delete the current file since this is not done by Django.
 >>> instance.file.delete()
 >>> instance.delete()