diff --git a/django/db/models/base.py b/django/db/models/base.py
index b70e6fd99aa..8ec9018ceee 100644
--- a/django/db/models/base.py
+++ b/django/db/models/base.py
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ 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 name == 'Model' or not filter(lambda b: issubclass(b, Model), bases):
+        try:
+            if not filter(lambda b: issubclass(b, Model), bases):
+                return super(ModelBase, cls).__new__(cls, name, bases, attrs)
+        except NameError:
+            # Model isn't defined yet, meaning we're looking at django's own Model defined below 
             return super(ModelBase, cls).__new__(cls, name, bases, attrs)
 
         # Create the class.
diff --git a/tests/modeltests/invalid_models/models.py b/tests/modeltests/invalid_models/models.py
index 2299cd85e61..af54ec3d359 100644
--- a/tests/modeltests/invalid_models/models.py
+++ b/tests/modeltests/invalid_models/models.py
@@ -97,6 +97,16 @@ class SelfClashM2M(models.Model):
     m2m_3 = models.ManyToManyField('self', symmetrical=False)
     m2m_4 = models.ManyToManyField('self', symmetrical=False)
 
+class Model(models.Model):
+    "But it's valid to call a model Model."
+    year = models.PositiveIntegerField() #1960
+    make = models.CharField(maxlength=10) #Aston Martin
+    name = models.CharField(maxlength=10) #DB 4 GT
+
+class Car(models.Model):
+    colour = models.CharField(maxlength=5)
+    model = models.ForeignKey(Model)
+
 model_errors = """invalid_models.fielderrors: "charfield": CharFields require a "maxlength" attribute.
 invalid_models.fielderrors: "floatfield": FloatFields require a "decimal_places" attribute.
 invalid_models.fielderrors: "floatfield": FloatFields require a "max_digits" attribute.