diff --git a/backbone.js b/backbone.js
index bec4de00..7ec5d484 100644
--- a/backbone.js
+++ b/backbone.js
@@ -986,7 +986,6 @@
     // Default JSON-request options.
     var params = _.extend({
       type:         type,
-      contentType:  'application/json',
       dataType:     'json',
       processData:  false
     }, options);
@@ -998,6 +997,7 @@
 
     // Ensure that we have the appropriate request data.
     if (!params.data && model && (method == 'create' || method == 'update')) {
+      params.contentType = 'application/json';
       params.data = JSON.stringify(model.toJSON());
     }