diff --git a/zerver/context_processors.py b/zerver/context_processors.py
index 8402769601..f2163c3682 100644
--- a/zerver/context_processors.py
+++ b/zerver/context_processors.py
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ def zulip_default_context(request):
     if settings.ZILENCER_ENABLED:
         apps_page_url = '/apps/'
 
+    user_is_authenticated = False
+    if hasattr(request, 'user') and hasattr(request.user, 'is_authenticated'):
+        user_is_authenticated = request.user.is_authenticated.value
+
     return {
         'realms_have_subdomains': settings.REALMS_HAVE_SUBDOMAINS,
         'custom_logo_url': settings.CUSTOM_LOGO_URL,
@@ -121,6 +125,7 @@ def zulip_default_context(request):
         'password_min_length': settings.PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH,
         'password_min_quality': settings.PASSWORD_MIN_ZXCVBN_QUALITY,
         'zulip_version': ZULIP_VERSION,
+        'user_is_authenticated': user_is_authenticated,
     }
 
 
diff --git a/zerver/lib/test_helpers.py b/zerver/lib/test_helpers.py
index 8eb4248035..8fcaf8467d 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/test_helpers.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/test_helpers.py
@@ -277,13 +277,14 @@ class HostRequestMock(object):
     """A mock request object where get_host() works.  Useful for testing
     routes that use Zulip's subdomains feature"""
 
-    def __init__(self, host=settings.EXTERNAL_HOST):
-        # type: (Text) -> None
+    def __init__(self, user_profile=None, host=settings.EXTERNAL_HOST):
+        # type: (UserProfile, Text) -> None
         self.host = host
         self.GET = {}  # type: Dict[str, Any]
         self.POST = {}  # type: Dict[str, Any]
         self.META = {'PATH_INFO': 'test'}
         self.path = ''
+        self.user = user_profile
 
     def get_host(self):
         # type: () -> Text