diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index 2eef6eeb51..850dd23fe1 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -1034,7 +1034,7 @@ def build_nested_field(self, field_name, relation_info, nested_depth):
         class NestedSerializer(ModelSerializer):
             class Meta:
                 model = relation_info.related_model
-                depth = nested_depth
+                depth = nested_depth - 1
 
         field_class = NestedSerializer
         field_kwargs = get_nested_relation_kwargs(relation_info)