diff --git a/actionpack/CHANGELOG b/actionpack/CHANGELOG
index 10105da3e2..63e69accbc 100644
--- a/actionpack/CHANGELOG
+++ b/actionpack/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 *SVN*
 
+* Make sure assigns are built for every request when testing #1866
+
 * Allow remote_addr to be queried on TestRequest #1668
 
 * Fixed bug when a partial render was passing a local with the same name as the partial
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_process.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_process.rb
index 999a551808..581b08d659 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_process.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_process.rb
@@ -11,6 +11,15 @@ module ActionController #:nodoc:
     def process_test(request) #:nodoc:
       process(request, TestResponse.new)
     end
+
+    def process_with_test(*args)
+      returning process_without_test(*args) do
+        add_variables_to_assigns
+      end
+    end
+
+    alias_method :process_without_test, :process
+    alias_method :process, :process_with_test
   end
 
   class TestRequest < AbstractRequest #:nodoc:
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/new_render_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/new_render_test.rb
index e9c7ee67e1..77e9d5be26 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/new_render_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/new_render_test.rb
@@ -135,6 +135,11 @@ class NewRenderTestController < ActionController::Base
     # Action template sets variable that's picked up by layout
   end
 
+  def render_text_with_assigns
+    @hello = "world"
+    render :text => "foo"
+  end
+
   def rescue_action(e) raise end
     
   private
@@ -342,4 +347,9 @@ class NewRenderTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     get :partial_collection_with_locals
     assert_equal "Bonjour: davidBonjour: mary", @response.body
   end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+
+  def test_render_text_with_assigns
+    get :render_text_with_assigns
+    assert_equal "world", assigns["hello"]
+  end
+end
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/redirect_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/redirect_test.rb
index 403bb8f9d5..f18f3682de 100755
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/redirect_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/redirect_test.rb
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ class RedirectController < ActionController::Base
     redirect_to :controller => 'module_test/module_redirect', :action => "hello_world"
   end
 
+  def redirect_with_assigns
+    @hello = "world"
+    redirect_to :action => "hello_world"
+  end
+
   def rescue_errors(e) raise e end
   
   protected
@@ -56,6 +61,11 @@ class RedirectTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     get :module_redirect
     assert_redirected_to :controller => 'module_test/module_redirect', :action => 'hello_world'
   end
+
+  def test_redirect_with_assigns
+    get :redirect_with_assigns
+    assert_equal "world", assigns["hello"]
+  end
 end
 
 module ModuleTest