diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/testing.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/testing.rb
index 838da3322ddcf..f998efb6e99b9 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/testing.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/testing.rb
@@ -4,33 +4,12 @@ module Testing
 
     include RackDelegation
 
-    # This gets included on the second request. We only want to modify this
-    # behavior on the second request. Ugh.
-    module Recycled # :nodoc:
-      def set_response!(request)
-      end
-
-      def process(name)
-        ret = super
-        if cookies = @_request.env['action_dispatch.cookies']
-          cookies.write(@_response)
-        end
-        @_response.prepare!
-        ret
-      end
-
-      def recycled?
-        true
-      end
-    end
-
-    def recycled? # :nodoc:
-      false
+    def set_response!(request)
+      super unless @_response
     end
 
     def recycle!
       @_url_options = nil
-      extend Recycled unless recycled?
     end
 
     # TODO : Rewrite tests using controller.headers= to use Rack env
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb
index 480297368fbc9..91814bbcb49d9 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb
@@ -499,8 +499,14 @@ def process(action, http_method = 'GET', *args)
 
         @controller.recycle!
         name = @request.parameters[:action]
+
         @controller.process(name)
 
+        if cookies = @request.env['action_dispatch.cookies']
+          cookies.write(@response)
+        end
+        @response.prepare!
+
         @assigns = @controller.respond_to?(:view_assigns) ? @controller.view_assigns : {}
         @request.session.delete('flash') if @request.session['flash'].blank?
         @response