diff --git a/rest_framework/test.py b/rest_framework/test.py
index 2e9cfe096..2f658a56c 100644
--- a/rest_framework/test.py
+++ b/rest_framework/test.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class APIClient(APIRequestFactory, DjangoClient):
         """
         self._credentials = kwargs
 
-    def authenticate(self, user=None, token=None):
+    def force_authenticate(self, user=None, token=None):
         """
         Forcibly authenticates outgoing requests with the given
         user and/or token.
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/test_testing.py b/rest_framework/tests/test_testing.py
index a8398b9a4..3706f38c2 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/test_testing.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/test_testing.py
@@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ class CheckTestClient(TestCase):
             response = self.client.get('/view/')
             self.assertEqual(response.data['auth'], 'example')
 
-    def test_authenticate(self):
+    def test_force_authenticate(self):
         """
-        Setting `.authenticate()` forcibly authenticates each request.
+        Setting `.force_authenticate()` forcibly authenticates each request.
         """
         user = User.objects.create_user('example', 'example@example.com')
-        self.client.authenticate(user)
+        self.client.force_authenticate(user)
         response = self.client.get('/view/')
         self.assertEqual(response.data['user'], 'example')