diff --git a/lib/moodlelib.php b/lib/moodlelib.php
index 7b64921ae3c..2747982b6ac 100644
--- a/lib/moodlelib.php
+++ b/lib/moodlelib.php
@@ -2853,10 +2853,6 @@ function require_login($courseorid = null, $autologinguest = true, $cm = null, $
                 $modinfo = get_fast_modinfo($course);
                 $cm = $modinfo->get_cm($cm->id);
             }
-            $PAGE->set_cm($cm, $course); // Set's up global $COURSE.
-            $PAGE->set_pagelayout('incourse');
-        } else {
-            $PAGE->set_course($course); // Set's up global $COURSE.
         }
     } else {
         // Do not touch global $COURSE via $PAGE->set_course(),
@@ -2960,6 +2956,13 @@ function require_login($courseorid = null, $autologinguest = true, $cm = null, $
 
     // Do not bother admins with any formalities.
     if (is_siteadmin()) {
+        // Set the global $COURSE.
+        if ($cm) {
+            $PAGE->set_cm($cm, $course);
+            $PAGE->set_pagelayout('incourse');
+        } else if (!empty($courseorid)) {
+            $PAGE->set_course($course);
+        }
         // Set accesstime or the user will appear offline which messes up messaging.
         user_accesstime_log($course->id);
         return;
@@ -3017,6 +3020,7 @@ function require_login($courseorid = null, $autologinguest = true, $cm = null, $
                 if ($preventredirect) {
                     throw new require_login_exception('Course is hidden');
                 }
+                $PAGE->set_context(null);
                 // We need to override the navigation URL as the course won't have been added to the navigation and thus
                 // the navigation will mess up when trying to find it.
                 navigation_node::override_active_url(new moodle_url('/'));
@@ -3037,6 +3041,7 @@ function require_login($courseorid = null, $autologinguest = true, $cm = null, $
                 if ($preventredirect) {
                     throw new require_login_exception('Invalid course login-as access');
                 }
+                $PAGE->set_context(null);
                 echo $OUTPUT->header();
                 notice(get_string('studentnotallowed', '', fullname($USER, true)), $CFG->wwwroot .'/');
             }
@@ -3151,6 +3156,14 @@ function require_login($courseorid = null, $autologinguest = true, $cm = null, $
         redirect($url, get_string('activityiscurrentlyhidden'));
     }
 
+    // Set the global $COURSE.
+    if ($cm) {
+        $PAGE->set_cm($cm, $course);
+        $PAGE->set_pagelayout('incourse');
+    } else if (!empty($courseorid)) {
+        $PAGE->set_course($course);
+    }
+
     // Finally access granted, update lastaccess times.
     user_accesstime_log($course->id);
 }
diff --git a/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php b/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php
index c4405b47757..6d0764001b6 100644
--- a/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php
+++ b/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php
@@ -370,7 +370,6 @@ class mod_forum_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         } catch (moodle_exception $e) {
             $this->assertEquals('requireloginerror', $e->errorcode);
         }
-        $this->assertDebuggingCalled();
     }
 
     /**