diff --git a/lib/Github/Client.php b/lib/Github/Client.php
index 4fc0dc7b741..cafe5554186 100644
--- a/lib/Github/Client.php
+++ b/lib/Github/Client.php
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ public function authenticate($tokenOrLogin, $password = null, $authMethod = null
             $password   = null;
         }
 
-        $this->httpClient->authenticate($tokenOrLogin, $password, $authMethod);
+        $this->getHttpClient()->authenticate($tokenOrLogin, $password, $authMethod);
     }
 
     /**