diff --git a/src/type/__tests__/definition-test.js b/src/type/__tests__/definition-test.js
index 0365e8130f..4828968a30 100644
--- a/src/type/__tests__/definition-test.js
+++ b/src/type/__tests__/definition-test.js
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@
 import { describe, it } from 'mocha';
 import { expect } from 'chai';
 
+import inspect from '../../jsutils/inspect';
 import identityFunc from '../../jsutils/identityFunc';
-import { valueFromASTUntyped } from '../../utilities/valueFromASTUntyped';
+import { parseValue } from '../../language/parser';
 import {
   type GraphQLType,
   type GraphQLNullableType,
@@ -64,7 +65,23 @@ describe('Type System: Scalars', () => {
 
     expect(scalar.serialize).to.equal(identityFunc);
     expect(scalar.parseValue).to.equal(identityFunc);
-    expect(scalar.parseLiteral).to.equal(valueFromASTUntyped);
+    expect(scalar.parseLiteral).to.be.a('function');
+  });
+
+  it('use parseValue for parsing literals if parseLiteral omitted', () => {
+    const scalar = new GraphQLScalarType({
+      name: 'Foo',
+      parseValue(value) {
+        return 'parseValue: ' + inspect(value);
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(scalar.parseLiteral(parseValue('null'))).to.equal(
+      'parseValue: null',
+    );
+    expect(scalar.parseLiteral(parseValue('{ foo: "bar" }'))).to.equal(
+      'parseValue: { foo: "bar" }',
+    );
   });
 
   it('rejects a Scalar type defining serialize with an incorrect type', () => {
@@ -80,18 +97,6 @@ describe('Type System: Scalars', () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it('rejects a Scalar type defining parseValue but not parseLiteral', () => {
-    expect(
-      () =>
-        new GraphQLScalarType({
-          name: 'SomeScalar',
-          parseValue: () => null,
-        }),
-    ).to.throw(
-      'SomeScalar must provide both "parseValue" and "parseLiteral" functions.',
-    );
-  });
-
   it('rejects a Scalar type defining parseLiteral but not parseValue', () => {
     expect(
       () =>
diff --git a/src/type/definition.js b/src/type/definition.js
index a13ac86d96..e43600a713 100644
--- a/src/type/definition.js
+++ b/src/type/definition.js
@@ -561,7 +561,10 @@ export class GraphQLScalarType {
     this.description = config.description;
     this.serialize = config.serialize || identityFunc;
     this.parseValue = config.parseValue || identityFunc;
-    this.parseLiteral = config.parseLiteral || valueFromASTUntyped;
+    this.parseLiteral =
+      config.parseLiteral ||
+      (node => this.parseValue(valueFromASTUntyped(node)));
+
     this.astNode = config.astNode;
     this.extensionASTNodes = undefineIfEmpty(config.extensionASTNodes);
     invariant(typeof config.name === 'string', 'Must provide name.');
@@ -570,7 +573,8 @@ export class GraphQLScalarType {
       `${this.name} must provide "serialize" function. If this custom Scalar ` +
         'is also used as an input type, ensure "parseValue" and "parseLiteral" functions are also provided.',
     );
-    if (config.parseValue || config.parseLiteral) {
+
+    if (config.parseLiteral) {
       invariant(
         typeof config.parseValue === 'function' &&
           typeof config.parseLiteral === 'function',
diff --git a/src/validation/__tests__/harness.js b/src/validation/__tests__/harness.js
index b2d78d197d..cfeb35a7a5 100644
--- a/src/validation/__tests__/harness.js
+++ b/src/validation/__tests__/harness.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 import { expect } from 'chai';
 import inspect from '../../jsutils/inspect';
-import { parse, print } from '../../language';
+import { parse } from '../../language';
 import { validate, validateSDL } from '../validate';
 import {
   type ValidationRule,
@@ -293,9 +293,6 @@ const ComplicatedArgs = new GraphQLObjectType({
 
 const InvalidScalar = new GraphQLScalarType({
   name: 'Invalid',
-  parseLiteral(valueNode) {
-    throw new Error(`Invalid scalar is always invalid: ${print(valueNode)}`);
-  },
   parseValue(value) {
     throw new Error(`Invalid scalar is always invalid: ${inspect(value)}`);
   },