diff --git a/django/db/models/query.py b/django/db/models/query.py
index 2e02f3f4978..6a8d7d5e64c 100644
--- a/django/db/models/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/query.py
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ class QuerySet(object):
         clone = self._clone()
         clone.query.add_immediate_loading(fields)
         return clone
-        
+
     ###################################
     # PUBLIC INTROSPECTION ATTRIBUTES #
     ###################################
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ class QuerySet(object):
         else:
             return False
     ordered = property(ordered)
-    
+
     ###################
     # PRIVATE METHODS #
     ###################
@@ -1007,7 +1007,7 @@ def delete_objects(seen_objs):
             update_query = sql.UpdateQuery(cls, connection)
             for field, model in cls._meta.get_fields_with_model():
                 if (field.rel and field.null and field.rel.to in seen_objs and
-                        filter(lambda f: f.column == field.column,
+                        filter(lambda f: f.column == field.rel.get_related_field().column,
                         field.rel.to._meta.fields)):
                     if model:
                         sql.UpdateQuery(model, connection).clear_related(field,
diff --git a/tests/modeltests/delete/models.py b/tests/modeltests/delete/models.py
index 49aab1fb1bc..58b296d8d29 100644
--- a/tests/modeltests/delete/models.py
+++ b/tests/modeltests/delete/models.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class D(DefaultRepr, models.Model):
 # D -> A
 
 # So, we must delete Ds first of all, then Cs then Bs then As.
-# However, if we start at As, we might find Bs first (in which 
+# However, if we start at As, we might find Bs first (in which
 # case things will be nice), or find Ds first.
 
 # Some mutually dependent models, but nullable
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ CyclicDependency: There is a cyclic dependency of items to be processed.
 
 >>> def clear_rel_obj_caches(models):
 ...     for m in models:
-...         if hasattr(m._meta, '_related_objects_cache'): 
+...         if hasattr(m._meta, '_related_objects_cache'):
 ...             del m._meta._related_objects_cache
 
 # Nice order
@@ -168,7 +168,16 @@ True
 >>> o.keys()
 [<class 'modeltests.delete.models.F'>, <class 'modeltests.delete.models.E'>]
 
+# temporarily replace the UpdateQuery class to verify that E.f is actually nulled out first
+>>> import django.db.models.sql
+>>> class LoggingUpdateQuery(django.db.models.sql.UpdateQuery):
+...     def clear_related(self, related_field, pk_list):
+...         print "CLEARING FIELD",related_field.name
+...         return super(LoggingUpdateQuery, self).clear_related(related_field, pk_list)
+>>> original_class = django.db.models.sql.UpdateQuery
+>>> django.db.models.sql.UpdateQuery = LoggingUpdateQuery
 >>> e1.delete()
+CLEARING FIELD f
 
 >>> e2 = E()
 >>> e2.save()
@@ -185,6 +194,9 @@ True
 [<class 'modeltests.delete.models.F'>, <class 'modeltests.delete.models.E'>]
 
 >>> f2.delete()
+CLEARING FIELD f
 
+# Put this back to normal
+>>> django.db.models.sql.UpdateQuery = original_class
 """
 }