diff --git a/tailbone/views/auth.py b/tailbone/views/auth.py
index 2b4cca73..13c27ca4 100644
--- a/tailbone/views/auth.py
+++ b/tailbone/views/auth.py
@@ -103,9 +103,8 @@ class AuthenticationView(View):
 
         form = forms.SimpleForm(self.request, UserLogin)
         if form.validate():
-            user = authenticate_user(Session(),
-                                     form.data['username'],
-                                     form.data['password'])
+            user = self.authenticate_user(form.data['username'],
+                                          form.data['password'])
             if user:
                 # okay now they're truly logged in
                 headers = remember(self.request, user.uuid)
@@ -121,6 +120,9 @@ class AuthenticationView(View):
             'dialog': mobile,
         }
 
+    def authenticate_user(self, username, password):
+        return authenticate_user(Session(), username, password)
+
     def mobile_login(self):
         return self.login(mobile=True)