diff --git a/django/db/models/fields/related.py b/django/db/models/fields/related.py
index 1d083cd9879..f2723a18c76 100644
--- a/django/db/models/fields/related.py
+++ b/django/db/models/fields/related.py
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ class ReverseManyRelatedObjectsDescriptor(object):
             model=rel_model,
             core_filters={'%s__pk' % self.field.related_query_name(): instance._get_pk_val()},
             instance=instance,
-            symmetrical=(self.field.rel.symmetrical and instance.__class__ == rel_model),
+            symmetrical=(self.field.rel.symmetrical and isinstance(instance, rel_model)),
             join_table=qn(self.field.m2m_db_table()),
             source_col_name=qn(self.field.m2m_column_name()),
             target_col_name=qn(self.field.m2m_reverse_name())
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/m2m_regress/models.py b/tests/regressiontests/m2m_regress/models.py
index cffc137e70b..5484b26d172 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/m2m_regress/models.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/m2m_regress/models.py
@@ -26,6 +26,13 @@ class Entry(models.Model):
     def __unicode__(self):
         return self.name
 
+# Two models both inheriting from a base model with a self-referential m2m field
+class SelfReferChild(SelfRefer):
+    pass
+
+class SelfReferChildSibling(SelfRefer):
+    pass
+
 __test__ = {"regressions": """
 # Multiple m2m references to the same model or a different model must be
 # distinguished when accessing the relations through an instance attribute.
@@ -57,7 +64,20 @@ __test__ = {"regressions": """
 >>> SelfRefer.objects.filter(porcupine='fred')
 Traceback (most recent call last):
 ...
-FieldError: Cannot resolve keyword 'porcupine' into field. Choices are: id, name, references, related
+FieldError: Cannot resolve keyword 'porcupine' into field. Choices are: id, name, references, related, selfreferchild, selfreferchildsibling
+
+# Test to ensure that the relationship between two inherited models
+# with a self-referential m2m field maintains symmetry
+>>> sr_child = SelfReferChild(name="Hanna")
+>>> sr_child.save()
+
+>>> sr_sibling = SelfReferChildSibling(name="Beth")
+>>> sr_sibling.save()
+>>> sr_child.related.add(sr_sibling)
+>>> sr_child.related.all()
+[<SelfRefer: Beth>]
+>>> sr_sibling.related.all()
+[<SelfRefer: Hanna>]
 
 """
 }