diff --git a/rest_framework/views.py b/rest_framework/views.py
index 02a6e25a9..2cf9b220c 100644
--- a/rest_framework/views.py
+++ b/rest_framework/views.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class APIView(View):
         """
         If request is not permitted, determine what kind of exception to raise.
         """
-        if not self.request.successful_authenticator:
+        if not request.successful_authenticator:
             raise exceptions.NotAuthenticated()
         raise exceptions.PermissionDenied()