diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/rescue.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/rescue.rb
index de35b53872cfd..8824d983b4f1c 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/rescue.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/rescue.rb
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ def self.included(base) #:nodoc:
 
     module ClassMethods
       def call_with_exception(env, exception) #:nodoc:
-        request = env["actioncontroller.rescue.request"]
-        response = env["actioncontroller.rescue.response"]
+        request = env["actioncontroller.rescue.request"] ||= Request.new(env)
+        response = env["actioncontroller.rescue.response"] ||= Response.new
         new.process(request, response, :rescue_action, exception)
       end
     end
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/rescue_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/rescue_test.rb
index d45ba3c3a167b..8728c9fca3ed8 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/rescue_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/rescue_test.rb
@@ -390,6 +390,13 @@ def test_rescue_dispatcher_exceptions
     assert_equal "no way", @response.body
   end
 
+  def test_rescue_dispatcher_exceptions_without_request_set
+    @request.env['REQUEST_URI'] = '/no_way'
+    response = RescueController.call_with_exception(@request.env, ActionController::RoutingError.new("Route not found"))
+    assert_kind_of ActionController::Response, response
+    assert_equal "no way", response.body
+  end
+
   protected
     def with_all_requests_local(local = true)
       old_local, ActionController::Base.consider_all_requests_local =