diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/assertions/routing.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/assertions/routing.rb
index c5fed1fc8fc4647a76e102fbe2ee7f1c73f5471a..4293ed19e15d59ca603818761c952e263f45e1d9 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/assertions/routing.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/assertions/routing.rb
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ def with_routing
 
       # ROUTES TODO: These assertions should really work in an integration context
       def method_missing(selector, *args, &block)
-        if @controller && @routes && @routes.named_routes.helpers.include?(selector)
+        if defined?(@controller) && @controller && @routes && @routes.named_routes.helpers.include?(selector)
           @controller.send(selector, *args, &block)
         else
           super