diff --git a/serde/src/de/impls.rs b/serde/src/de/impls.rs
index 1e5f5770..ef696484 100644
--- a/serde/src/de/impls.rs
+++ b/serde/src/de/impls.rs
@@ -283,6 +283,13 @@ impl<
 > Visitor for OptionVisitor<T> {
     type Value = Option<T>;
 
+    #[inline]
+    fn visit_unit<E>(&mut self) -> Result<Option<T>, E>
+        where E: Error,
+    {
+        Ok(None)
+    }
+
     #[inline]
     fn visit_none<E>(&mut self) -> Result<Option<T>, E>
         where E: Error,