diff --git a/AUTHORS b/AUTHORS
index d640706ec9..b4abfcf9cc 100644
--- a/AUTHORS
+++ b/AUTHORS
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ answer newbie questions, and generally made Django that much better:
     pgross@thoughtworks.com
     phaedo <http://phaedo.cx/>
     phil@produxion.net
+    phil.h.smith@gmail.com
     Gustavo Picon
     Luke Plant <http://lukeplant.me.uk/>
     plisk
diff --git a/django/db/models/base.py b/django/db/models/base.py
index 5436d80a0e..ff99fd8b46 100644
--- a/django/db/models/base.py
+++ b/django/db/models/base.py
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ class ModelBase(type):
     "Metaclass for all models"
     def __new__(cls, name, bases, attrs):
         # If this isn't a subclass of Model, don't do anything special.
-        if not bases or bases == (object,):
-            return type.__new__(cls, name, bases, attrs)
+        if name == 'Model' or not filter(lambda b: issubclass(b, Model), bases):
+            return super(ModelBase, cls).__new__(cls, name, bases, attrs)
 
         # Create the class.
         new_class = type.__new__(cls, name, bases, {'__module__': attrs.pop('__module__')})