diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/http_authentication.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/http_authentication.rb
index 387fa4e695..269858633e 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/http_authentication.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/http_authentication.rb
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ module ActionController
 
       def authentication_request(controller, realm)
         controller.headers["WWW-Authenticate"] = %(Basic realm="#{realm.gsub(/"/, "")}")
-        controller.render :text => "HTTP Basic: Access denied.\n", :status => :unauthorized
+        controller.send :render, :text => "HTTP Basic: Access denied.\n", :status => :unauthorized
         return false    
       end
     end