diff --git a/mongoengine/base.py b/mongoengine/base.py
index 9f8c1e7b..42db460f 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from queryset import QuerySet, QuerySetManager
 from queryset import DoesNotExist, MultipleObjectsReturned
+from queryset import DO_NOTHING
 
 import sys
 import pymongo
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@ class DocumentMetaclass(type):
         new_class = super_new(cls, name, bases, attrs)
         for field in new_class._fields.values():
             field.owner_document = new_class
-            if hasattr(field, 'delete_rule') and field.delete_rule:
+            if hasattr(field, 'delete_rule') and field.delete_rule > DO_NOTHING:
                 field.document_type.register_delete_rule(new_class, field.name,
                         field.delete_rule)
 
diff --git a/mongoengine/document.py b/mongoengine/document.py
index 504e14eb..e64092e8 100644
--- a/mongoengine/document.py
+++ b/mongoengine/document.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from base import (DocumentMetaclass, TopLevelDocumentMetaclass, BaseDocument,
                   ValidationError)
-from queryset import OperationError, DO_NOTHING
+from queryset import OperationError
 from connection import _get_db
 
 import pymongo
@@ -105,9 +105,6 @@ class Document(BaseDocument):
         """This method registers the delete rules to apply when removing this
         object.
         """
-        if rule == DO_NOTHING:
-            return
-
         cls._meta['delete_rules'][(document_cls, field_name)] = rule