diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/validation.py b/django/contrib/admin/validation.py
index 3392714f5d..3243bf86e1 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/validation.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/validation.py
@@ -67,10 +67,6 @@ def validate(cls, model):
     # list_editable
     if hasattr(cls, 'list_editable') and cls.list_editable:
         check_isseq(cls, 'list_editable', cls.list_editable)
-        if not (opts.ordering or cls.ordering):
-            raise ImproperlyConfigured("'%s.list_editable' cannot be used "
-                "without a default ordering. Please define ordering on either %s or %s."
-                % (cls.__name__, cls.__name__, model.__name__))
         for idx, field_name in enumerate(cls.list_editable):
             try:
                 field = opts.get_field_by_name(field_name)[0]
diff --git a/docs/ref/contrib/admin/index.txt b/docs/ref/contrib/admin/index.txt
index f277d08d4d..700303fbf7 100644
--- a/docs/ref/contrib/admin/index.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/contrib/admin/index.txt
@@ -424,16 +424,13 @@ edit and save multiple rows at once.
     ``list_editable`` interacts with a couple of other options in particular
     ways; you should note the following rules:
 
-        * To use ``list_editable`` you must have defined ``ordering`` on either
-          your model's or your ``ModelAdmin``'s inner ``Meta``.
-
         * Any field in ``list_editable`` must also be in ``list_display``. You
           can't edit a field that's not displayed!
 
         * The same field can't be listed in both ``list_editable`` and
           ``list_display_links`` -- a field can't be both a form and a link.
 
-    You'll get a validation error if any of these rules are broken.
+    You'll get a validation error if either of these rules are broken.
 
 .. attribute:: ModelAdmin.list_filter