diff --git a/rest_framework/filters.py b/rest_framework/filters.py
index f525443b6c..4d5cc4c13a 100644
--- a/rest_framework/filters.py
+++ b/rest_framework/filters.py
@@ -122,6 +122,8 @@ def must_call_distinct(self, queryset, search_fields):
                 continue
             parts = search_field.split(LOOKUP_SEP)
             for part in parts:
+                if part == "pk":
+                    part = opts.pk.name
                 field = opts.get_field(part)
                 if hasattr(field, 'get_path_info'):
                     # This field is a relation, update opts to follow the relation
diff --git a/tests/test_filters.py b/tests/test_filters.py
index 13756501e2..80cb0a481e 100644
--- a/tests/test_filters.py
+++ b/tests/test_filters.py
@@ -451,6 +451,19 @@ def test_must_call_distinct(self):
                 ["%stitle" % prefix, "%sattribute__label" % prefix]
             )
 
+    def test_must_call_distinct_with_pk_alias(self):
+        filter_ = filters.SearchFilter()
+        prefixes = [''] + list(filter_.lookup_prefixes)
+        for prefix in prefixes:
+            assert not filter_.must_call_distinct(
+                SearchFilterModelFk._meta,
+                ["%spk" % prefix]
+            )
+            assert not filter_.must_call_distinct(
+                SearchFilterModelFk._meta,
+                ["%sattribute__pk" % prefix]
+            )
+
     def test_must_call_distinct_restores_meta_for_each_field(self):
         # In this test case the attribute of the fk model comes first in the
         # list of search fields.
@@ -535,6 +548,33 @@ def test_must_call_distinct(self):
                 ["%stitle" % prefix, "%sattributes__label" % prefix]
             )
 
+    def test_must_call_distinct_with_pk_alias(self):
+        filter_ = filters.SearchFilter()
+        prefixes = [''] + list(filter_.lookup_prefixes)
+        for prefix in prefixes:
+            assert not filter_.must_call_distinct(
+                SearchFilterModelM2M._meta,
+                ["%spk" % prefix]
+            )
+            assert filter_.must_call_distinct(
+                SearchFilterModelM2M._meta,
+                ["%sattributes__pk" % prefix]
+            )
+
+    def test_search_on_pk(self):
+        class SearchListView(generics.ListAPIView):
+            queryset = SearchFilterModelM2M.objects.all()
+            serializer_class = SearchFilterM2MSerializer
+            filter_backends = (filters.SearchFilter,)
+            search_fields = ('=pk',)
+
+        pk = SearchFilterModelM2M.objects.get(title='zz').pk
+        view = SearchListView.as_view()
+        request = factory.get('/', {'search': str(pk)})
+        response = view(request)
+        assert response.status_code == 200
+        assert [item['title'] for item in response.data] == ['zz']
+
 
 class Blog(models.Model):
     name = models.CharField(max_length=20)