diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6bd614eb..45b68f7a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,10 +73,6 @@ Currently `ActiveModel::Serializers` expects objects to implement
 read\_attribute\_for\_serialization. That's all you need to do to have
 your POROs supported. 
 
-# ActiveModel::Serializer
-
-All new serializers descend from ActiveModel::Serializer
-
 # render :json
 
 In your controllers, when you use `render :json`, Rails will now first search
@@ -726,6 +722,29 @@ end
 
 The caching interface uses `Rails.cache` under the hood.
 
+# ApplicationSerializer
+
+By default, new serializers descend from ActiveModel::Serializer. However, if you wish to share behaviour across your serializers you can create an ApplicationSerializer at ```app/serializers/application_serializer.rb```:
+
+```ruby
+class ApplicationSerializer < ActiveModel::Serializer
+end
+```
+
+Any newly generated serializers will automatically descend from ApplicationSerializer.
+
+```
+$ rails g serializer post
+```
+
+now generates:
+
+```ruby
+class PostSerializer < ApplicationSerializer
+  attributes :id
+end
+````
+
 # Design and Implementation Guidelines
 
 ## Keep it Simple
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer/generators/serializer/serializer_generator.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer/generators/serializer/serializer_generator.rb
index 7c4c036d..40a8f939 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer/generators/serializer/serializer_generator.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer/generators/serializer/serializer_generator.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ module Rails
         if options[:parent]
           options[:parent]
         elsif (ns = Rails::Generators.namespace) && ns.const_defined?(:ApplicationSerializer) ||
-               defined?(::ApplicationSerializer)
+               (Object.const_get(:ApplicationSerializer) rescue nil)
           'ApplicationSerializer'
         else
           'ActiveModel::Serializer'