diff --git a/django/views/generic/base.py b/django/views/generic/base.py
index 4e28b5280d4..6b5256779ff 100644
--- a/django/views/generic/base.py
+++ b/django/views/generic/base.py
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ class View(object):
 
         def view(request, *args, **kwargs):
             self = cls(**initkwargs)
-            if hasattr(self, 'get') and not hasattr(self, 'head'):
-                self.head = self.get
             return self.dispatch(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
         # take name and docstring from class
@@ -79,6 +77,9 @@ class View(object):
         )
         return http.HttpResponseNotAllowed(allowed_methods)
 
+    def head(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self.get(*args, **kwargs)
+
 
 class TemplateResponseMixin(object):
     """
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/special_headers/views.py b/tests/regressiontests/special_headers/views.py
index 7ec99ad4e1f..ce940363eaf 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/special_headers/views.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/special_headers/views.py
@@ -10,5 +10,5 @@ def xview(request):
     return HttpResponse()
 
 class XViewClass(View):
-    def get(request):
+    def get(self, request):
         return HttpResponse()