diff --git a/lib/chefspec/api/core.rb b/lib/chefspec/api/core.rb
index 0207a750..9fc7e8a8 100644
--- a/lib/chefspec/api/core.rb
+++ b/lib/chefspec/api/core.rb
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ def chef_runner_instance
       # By default, run the recipe in the base `describe` block.
       let(:chef_run) { chef_runner.converge(described_recipe) }
 
+      # Give a default accessor for stubbing things on the node object
+      # associated with the runner instance.
+      let(:chef_node) { chef_runner.node }
+
       # Helper method for some of the nestable test value methods like
       # {ClassMethods#default_attributes} and {ClassMethods#step_into}.
       #