diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Auth/GuardHelpers.php b/src/Illuminate/Auth/GuardHelpers.php
index 8dd5769f45de..95fee3ae7ccf 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Auth/GuardHelpers.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Auth/GuardHelpers.php
@@ -23,6 +23,22 @@ trait GuardHelpers
      */
     protected $provider;
 
+    /**
+     * Determine if the current user is authenticated.
+     *
+     * @return \Illuminate\Contracts\Auth\Authenticatable
+     *
+     * @throws \Illuminate\Auth\AuthenticationException
+     */
+    public function authenticate()
+    {
+        if (! is_null($user = $this->user())) {
+            return $user;
+        }
+
+        throw new AuthenticationException($this);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Determine if the current user is authenticated.
      *
diff --git a/tests/Auth/AuthGuardTest.php b/tests/Auth/AuthGuardTest.php
index 038e48d6741e..23bba2b22913 100755
--- a/tests/Auth/AuthGuardTest.php
+++ b/tests/Auth/AuthGuardTest.php
@@ -118,6 +118,25 @@ public function testLoginFiresLoginEvent()
         $mock->login($user);
     }
 
+    public function testAuthenticateReturnsUserWhenUserIsNotNull()
+    {
+        $user = m::mock('Illuminate\Contracts\Auth\Authenticatable');
+        $guard = $this->getGuard()->setUser($user);
+
+        $this->assertEquals($user, $guard->authenticate());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @expectedException \Illuminate\Auth\AuthenticationException
+     */
+    public function testAuthenticateThrowsWhenUserIsNull()
+    {
+        $guard = $this->getGuard();
+        $guard->getSession()->shouldReceive('get')->once()->andReturn(null);
+
+        $guard->authenticate();
+    }
+
     public function testIsAuthedReturnsTrueWhenUserIsNotNull()
     {
         $user = m::mock('Illuminate\Contracts\Auth\Authenticatable');