diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php
index 42192eefb..48a58ca99 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php
@@ -5,8 +5,24 @@ namespace Oxbow\Http\Controllers;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Bus\DispatchesJobs;
 use Illuminate\Routing\Controller as BaseController;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Validation\ValidatesRequests;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;
+use Oxbow\User;
 
 abstract class Controller extends BaseController
 {
     use DispatchesJobs, ValidatesRequests;
+
+    /**
+     * Controller constructor.
+     */
+    public function __construct()
+    {
+        view()->share('signedIn', Auth::check());
+        $user = Auth::user();
+        if(!$user) {
+            $user = User::getDefault();
+        }
+        view()->share('user', $user);
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/app/User.php b/app/User.php
index 731b792f5..c7f547aad 100644
--- a/app/User.php
+++ b/app/User.php
@@ -33,6 +33,17 @@ class User extends Model implements AuthenticatableContract, CanResetPasswordCon
      */
     protected $hidden = ['password', 'remember_token'];
 
+    /**
+     * Returns a default guest user.
+     */
+    public static function getDefault()
+    {
+        return new static([
+            'email' => 'guest',
+            'name' => 'Guest'
+        ]);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns the user's avatar,
      * Uses Gravatar as the avatar service.