diff --git a/django/db/models/query.py b/django/db/models/query.py
index 8adf0d555c..d0b605db84 100644
--- a/django/db/models/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/query.py
@@ -1208,7 +1208,7 @@ def get_cached_row(klass, row, index_start, using, max_depth=0, cur_depth=0,
             next = None
         # Recursively retrieve the data for the related object
         cached_row = get_cached_row(f.rel.to, row, index_end, using,
-                max_depth, cur_depth+1, next)
+                max_depth, cur_depth+1, next, only_load=only_load)
         # If the recursive descent found an object, populate the
         # descriptor caches relevant to the object
         if cached_row:
@@ -1237,7 +1237,7 @@ def get_cached_row(klass, row, index_start, using, max_depth=0, cur_depth=0,
             next = requested[f.related_query_name()]
             # Recursively retrieve the data for the related object
             cached_row = get_cached_row(model, row, index_end, using,
-                max_depth, cur_depth+1, next, local_only=True)
+                max_depth, cur_depth+1, next, only_load=only_load, local_only=True)
             # If the recursive descent found an object, populate the
             # descriptor caches relevant to the object
             if cached_row:
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/defer_regress/models.py b/tests/regressiontests/defer_regress/models.py
index 08c4d621b6..8b42165891 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/defer_regress/models.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/defer_regress/models.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ False
 [<class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Child'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.RelatedItem'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.ResolveThis'>]
 
 >>> sorted(get_models(models.get_app('defer_regress'), include_deferred=True), key=lambda obj: obj._meta.object_name)
-[<class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Child'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item_Deferred_name'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item_Deferred_name_other_value_text'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item_Deferred_name_other_value_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item_Deferred_other_value_text_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item_Deferred_text_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf_Deferred_child_id_second_child_id_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf_Deferred_name_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf_Deferred_second_child_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf_Deferred_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.RelatedItem'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.RelatedItem_Deferred_'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.RelatedItem_Deferred_item_id'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.ResolveThis'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.ResolveThis_Deferred_num'>]
+[<class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Child'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Child_Deferred_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item_Deferred_name'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item_Deferred_name_other_value_text'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item_Deferred_name_other_value_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item_Deferred_other_value_text_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Item_Deferred_text_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf_Deferred_child_id_second_child_id_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf_Deferred_name_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf_Deferred_second_child_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.Leaf_Deferred_value'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.RelatedItem'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.RelatedItem_Deferred_'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.RelatedItem_Deferred_item_id'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.ResolveThis'>, <class 'regressiontests.defer_regress.models.ResolveThis_Deferred_num'>]
 """
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/select_related_regress/models.py b/tests/regressiontests/select_related_regress/models.py
index b2664f9398..9eaf934777 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/select_related_regress/models.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/select_related_regress/models.py
@@ -165,4 +165,13 @@ Exercising select_related() with multi-table model inheritance.
 >>> Item.objects.select_related("child").order_by("name")
 [<Item: item1>, <Item: item2>]
 
+# Regression for #12851 - Deferred fields are used correctly if you
+# select_related a subset of fields.
+>>> wa = State.objects.create(name="Western Australia", country=australia)
+>>> _ = Client.objects.create(name='Brian Burke', state=wa, status=active)
+>>> burke = Client.objects.select_related('state').defer('state__name').get(name='Brian Burke')
+>>> burke.state.name
+u'Western Australia'
+
 """}
+