diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Testing/Concerns/InteractsWithAuthentication.php b/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Testing/Concerns/InteractsWithAuthentication.php
index 11660401ef49..be6a977d18a9 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Testing/Concerns/InteractsWithAuthentication.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Testing/Concerns/InteractsWithAuthentication.php
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ public function assertAuthenticatedAs($user, $guard = null)
     {
         $expected = $this->app->make('auth')->guard($guard)->user();
 
+        $this->assertNotNull($expected, 'The current user is not authenticated.');
+
         $this->assertInstanceOf(
             get_class($expected), $user,
             'The currently authenticated user is not who was expected'