diff --git a/lib/action_controller/serialization.rb b/lib/action_controller/serialization.rb
index 2b384948..39403f50 100644
--- a/lib/action_controller/serialization.rb
+++ b/lib/action_controller/serialization.rb
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ module ActionController
     end
 
     def serialization_scope
-      send(_serialization_scope)
+      send(_serialization_scope) if respond_to?(_serialization_scope)
     end
 
     def default_serializer_options