diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 40eca831..744084c6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 ## 2.7.2 (Unreleased)
 
+  - [#228](https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/issues/228) - Refactored default `user_for_paper_trail` method implementation
+  so that `current_user` only gets invoked if it is defined.
   - [#219](https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/pull/219) - Fixed issue where attributes stored with `nil` value might not get
   reified properly depending on the way the serializer worked.
   - [#187](https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/pull/187) - Confirmed JRuby support.
diff --git a/lib/paper_trail/controller.rb b/lib/paper_trail/controller.rb
index 974d1c7c..6bbbe70a 100644
--- a/lib/paper_trail/controller.rb
+++ b/lib/paper_trail/controller.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ module PaperTrail
     # Override this method in your controller to call a different
     # method, e.g. `current_person`, or anything you like.
     def user_for_paper_trail
-      current_user rescue nil
+      current_user if defined?(current_user)
     end
 
     # Returns any information about the controller or request that you