diff --git a/numpy/core/src/multiarray/conversion_utils.c b/numpy/core/src/multiarray/conversion_utils.c
index a0e479ba9e43..1f56f942c1d4 100644
--- a/numpy/core/src/multiarray/conversion_utils.c
+++ b/numpy/core/src/multiarray/conversion_utils.c
@@ -146,7 +146,11 @@ PyArray_IntpConverter(PyObject *obj, PyArray_Dims *seq)
 NPY_NO_EXPORT int
 PyArray_BufferConverter(PyObject *obj, PyArray_Chunk *buf)
 {
+#if defined(NPY_PY3K)
+    Py_buffer view;
+#else
     Py_ssize_t buflen;
+#endif
 
     buf->ptr = NULL;
     buf->flags = NPY_ARRAY_BEHAVED;
@@ -154,22 +158,41 @@ PyArray_BufferConverter(PyObject *obj, PyArray_Chunk *buf)
     if (obj == Py_None) {
         return NPY_SUCCEED;
     }
-    if (PyObject_AsWriteBuffer(obj, &(buf->ptr), &buflen) < 0) {
+
+#if defined(NPY_PY3K)
+    if (PyObject_GetBuffer(obj, &view, PyBUF_ANY_CONTIGUOUS|PyBUF_WRITABLE) != 0) {
         PyErr_Clear();
         buf->flags &= ~NPY_ARRAY_WRITEABLE;
-        if (PyObject_AsReadBuffer(obj, (const void **)&(buf->ptr),
-                                  &buflen) < 0) {
+        if (PyObject_GetBuffer(obj, &view, PyBUF_ANY_CONTIGUOUS) != 0) {
             return NPY_FAIL;
         }
     }
-    buf->len = (npy_intp) buflen;
+
+    buf->ptr = view.buf;
+    buf->len = (npy_intp) view.len;
+
+    /*
+     * XXX: PyObject_AsWriteBuffer does also this, but it is unsafe, as there is
+     * no strict guarantee that the buffer sticks around after being released.
+     */
+    PyBuffer_Release(&view);
 
     /* Point to the base of the buffer object if present */
-#if defined(NPY_PY3K)
     if (PyMemoryView_Check(obj)) {
         buf->base = PyMemoryView_GET_BASE(obj);
     }
 #else
+    if (PyObject_AsWriteBuffer(obj, &(buf->ptr), &buflen) < 0) {
+        PyErr_Clear();
+        buf->flags &= ~NPY_ARRAY_WRITEABLE;
+        if (PyObject_AsReadBuffer(obj, (const void **)&(buf->ptr),
+                                  &buflen) < 0) {
+            return NPY_FAIL;
+        }
+    }
+    buf->len = (npy_intp) buflen;
+
+    /* Point to the base of the buffer object if present */
     if (PyBuffer_Check(obj)) {
         buf->base = ((PyArray_Chunk *)obj)->base;
     }
diff --git a/numpy/core/tests/test_regression.py b/numpy/core/tests/test_regression.py
index 86b424ebca76..11abff00fd65 100644
--- a/numpy/core/tests/test_regression.py
+++ b/numpy/core/tests/test_regression.py
@@ -1912,6 +1912,13 @@ def test_copymodule_preserves_f_contiguity(self):
         assert_(c.flags.fortran)
         assert_(c.flags.f_contiguous)
 
+    def test_fortran_order_buffer(self):
+        import numpy as np
+        a = np.array([['Hello', 'Foob']], dtype='<U5', order='F')
+        arr = np.ndarray(shape=[1, 2, 5], dtype='<U1', buffer=a)
+        arr2 = np.array([[[sixu('H'), sixu('e'), sixu('l'), sixu('l'), sixu('o')],
+                          [sixu('F'), sixu('o'), sixu('o'), sixu('b'), sixu('')]]])
+        assert_array_equal(arr, arr2)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     run_module_suite()