diff --git a/lib/middleware/authenticate.js b/lib/middleware/authenticate.js
index dc70cfc2..6682b1da 100644
--- a/lib/middleware/authenticate.js
+++ b/lib/middleware/authenticate.js
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ module.exports = function authenticate(passport, name, options, callback) {
   }
   
   return function authenticate(req, res, next) {
+    if (typeof next !== 'function') {
+      throw 'TypeError: next is not a function. authenticate function requires (req, res, next)';
+    }
     if (http.IncomingMessage.prototype.logIn
         && http.IncomingMessage.prototype.logIn !== IncomingMessageExt.logIn) {
       require('../framework/connect').__monkeypatchNode();