diff --git a/lib/devise-i18n/railtie.rb b/lib/devise-i18n/railtie.rb
index ad757225..befc04b5 100644
--- a/lib/devise-i18n/railtie.rb
+++ b/lib/devise-i18n/railtie.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ class Engine < ::Rails::Engine
     isolate_namespace DeviseI18n
     initializer 'devise_i18n.action_controller' do
       ActiveSupport.on_load :action_controller do
-        helper DeviseI18n::ViewHelpers
+        helper DeviseI18n::ViewHelpers if respond_to?(:helper)
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/support/devise_i18n_views_app.rb b/spec/support/devise_i18n_views_app.rb
index 7beb7e2f..e0df50bb 100644
--- a/spec/support/devise_i18n_views_app.rb
+++ b/spec/support/devise_i18n_views_app.rb
@@ -122,3 +122,6 @@ def index
     render DeviseI18nViewsApp.view_to_render
   end
 end
+
+class TestApiController < ActionController::API
+end