diff --git a/src/app/+admin/admin-access-control/epeople-registry/eperson-form/eperson-form.component.spec.ts b/src/app/+admin/admin-access-control/epeople-registry/eperson-form/eperson-form.component.spec.ts
index 4319c77e8b..7a301aa7e9 100644
--- a/src/app/+admin/admin-access-control/epeople-registry/eperson-form/eperson-form.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/+admin/admin-access-control/epeople-registry/eperson-form/eperson-form.component.spec.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import { NotificationsServiceStub } from '../../../../shared/testing/notificatio
 import { createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$ } from '../../../../shared/testing/utils';
 import { EPeopleRegistryComponent } from '../epeople-registry.component';
 import { EPersonFormComponent } from './eperson-form.component';
+import { AuthService } from '../../../../core/auth/auth.service';
+import { AuthServiceStub } from '../../../../shared/testing/auth-service-stub';
 
 describe('EPersonFormComponent', () => {
   let component: EPersonFormComponent;
@@ -125,6 +127,7 @@ describe('EPersonFormComponent', () => {
         { provide: Store, useValue: {} },
         { provide: RemoteDataBuildService, useValue: {} },
         { provide: HALEndpointService, useValue: {} },
+        { provide: AuthService, useValue: new AuthServiceStub() },
         EPeopleRegistryComponent
       ],
       schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
diff --git a/src/app/+admin/admin-access-control/epeople-registry/eperson-form/eperson-form.component.ts b/src/app/+admin/admin-access-control/epeople-registry/eperson-form/eperson-form.component.ts
index f221042418..9e3bcc88c0 100644
--- a/src/app/+admin/admin-access-control/epeople-registry/eperson-form/eperson-form.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/+admin/admin-access-control/epeople-registry/eperson-form/eperson-form.component.ts
@@ -161,7 +161,9 @@ export class EPersonFormComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
               private authService: AuthService) {
     this.subs.push(this.epersonService.getActiveEPerson().subscribe((eperson: EPerson) => {
       this.epersonInitial = eperson;
-      this.isImpersonated = this.authService.isImpersonatingUser(eperson.id);
+      if (hasValue(eperson)) {
+        this.isImpersonated = this.authService.isImpersonatingUser(eperson.id);
+      }
     }));
   }
 
diff --git a/src/app/core/auth/auth.effects.spec.ts b/src/app/core/auth/auth.effects.spec.ts
index 1f6fa51afd..872c71022f 100644
--- a/src/app/core/auth/auth.effects.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/auth/auth.effects.spec.ts
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ describe('AuthEffects', () => {
           }
         });
 
-        const expected = cold('--b-', { b: new RetrieveAuthenticatedEpersonSuccessAction(EPersonMock) });
+        const expected = cold('--b-', { b: new RetrieveAuthenticatedEpersonSuccessAction(EPersonMock.id) });
 
         expect(authEffects.retrieveAuthenticatedEperson$).toBeObservable(expected);
       });
diff --git a/src/app/core/auth/auth.reducer.spec.ts b/src/app/core/auth/auth.reducer.spec.ts
index 7a39ef3da4..a50c469836 100644
--- a/src/app/core/auth/auth.reducer.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/auth/auth.reducer.spec.ts
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: undefined,
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock
+      userId: EPersonMock.id
     };
 
     const action = new LogOutAction();
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: undefined,
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock
+      userId: EPersonMock.id
     };
 
     const action = new LogOutSuccessAction();
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
       refreshing: false,
-      user: undefined
+      userId: undefined
     };
     expect(newState).toEqual(state);
   });
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: undefined,
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock
+      userId: EPersonMock.id
     };
 
     const action = new LogOutErrorAction(mockError);
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: 'Test error message',
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock
+      userId: EPersonMock.id
     };
     expect(newState).toEqual(state);
   });
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       loading: true,
       info: undefined
     };
-    const action = new RetrieveAuthenticatedEpersonSuccessAction(EPersonMock);
+    const action = new RetrieveAuthenticatedEpersonSuccessAction(EPersonMock.id);
     const newState = authReducer(initialState, action);
     state = {
       authenticated: true,
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: undefined,
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock
+      userId: EPersonMock.id
     };
     expect(newState).toEqual(state);
   });
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: undefined,
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock
+      userId: EPersonMock.id
     };
     const newTokenInfo = new AuthTokenInfo('Refreshed token');
     const action = new RefreshTokenAction(newTokenInfo);
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: undefined,
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock,
+      userId: EPersonMock.id,
       refreshing: true
     };
     expect(newState).toEqual(state);
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: undefined,
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock,
+      userId: EPersonMock.id,
       refreshing: true
     };
     const newTokenInfo = new AuthTokenInfo('Refreshed token');
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: undefined,
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock,
+      userId: EPersonMock.id,
       refreshing: false
     };
     expect(newState).toEqual(state);
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: undefined,
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock,
+      userId: EPersonMock.id,
       refreshing: true
     };
     const action = new RefreshTokenErrorAction();
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
       refreshing: false,
-      user: undefined
+      userId: undefined
     };
     expect(newState).toEqual(state);
   });
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       error: undefined,
       loading: false,
       info: undefined,
-      user: EPersonMock
+      userId: EPersonMock.id
     };
 
     state = {
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ describe('authReducer', () => {
       loading: false,
       error: undefined,
       info: 'Message',
-      user: undefined
+      userId: undefined
     };
   });
 
diff --git a/src/app/profile-page/profile-page.component.spec.ts b/src/app/profile-page/profile-page.component.spec.ts
index 5992012be9..3b9c8e7d6d 100644
--- a/src/app/profile-page/profile-page.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/profile-page/profile-page.component.spec.ts
@@ -12,12 +12,15 @@ import { AuthTokenInfo } from '../core/auth/models/auth-token-info.model';
 import { EPersonDataService } from '../core/eperson/eperson-data.service';
 import { NotificationsService } from '../shared/notifications/notifications.service';
 import { authReducer } from '../core/auth/auth.reducer';
+import { of } from 'rxjs/internal/observable/of';
+import { AuthService } from '../core/auth/auth.service';
 
 describe('ProfilePageComponent', () => {
   let component: ProfilePageComponent;
   let fixture: ComponentFixture<ProfilePageComponent>;
 
   const user = Object.assign(new EPerson(), {
+    id: 'userId',
     groups: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(createPaginatedList([]))
   });
   const authState = {
@@ -25,9 +28,12 @@ describe('ProfilePageComponent', () => {
     loaded: true,
     loading: false,
     authToken: new AuthTokenInfo('test_token'),
-    user: user
+    userId: user.id
   };
 
+  const authService = jasmine.createSpyObj('authService', {
+    getAuthenticatedUserFromStore: of(user)
+  });
   const epersonService = jasmine.createSpyObj('epersonService', {
     findById: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(user)
   });
@@ -43,7 +49,8 @@ describe('ProfilePageComponent', () => {
       imports: [StoreModule.forRoot(authReducer), TranslateModule.forRoot(), RouterTestingModule.withRoutes([])],
       providers: [
         { provide: EPersonDataService, useValue: epersonService },
-        { provide: NotificationsService, useValue: notificationsService }
+        { provide: NotificationsService, useValue: notificationsService },
+        { provide: AuthService, useValue: authService }
       ],
       schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
     }).compileComponents();
diff --git a/src/app/shared/auth-nav-menu/auth-nav-menu.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/auth-nav-menu/auth-nav-menu.component.spec.ts
index 5e01494674..9c20f2be4d 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/auth-nav-menu/auth-nav-menu.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/auth-nav-menu/auth-nav-menu.component.spec.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { HostWindowService } from '../host-window.service';
 import { NoopAnimationsModule } from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
 import { AuthTokenInfo } from '../../core/auth/models/auth-token-info.model';
 import { AuthService } from '../../core/auth/auth.service';
+import { of } from 'rxjs/internal/observable/of';
 
 describe('AuthNavMenuComponent', () => {
 
@@ -25,9 +26,19 @@ describe('AuthNavMenuComponent', () => {
   let notAuthState: AuthState;
   let authState: AuthState;
 
+  let authService: AuthService;
+
   let routerState = {
     url: '/home'
   };
+
+  function serviceInit() {
+    authService = jasmine.createSpyObj('authService', {
+      getAuthenticatedUserFromStore: of(EPersonMock),
+      setRedirectUrl: {}
+    });
+  }
+
   function init() {
     notAuthState = {
       authenticated: false,
@@ -39,13 +50,14 @@ describe('AuthNavMenuComponent', () => {
       loaded: true,
       loading: false,
       authToken: new AuthTokenInfo('test_token'),
-      user: EPersonMock
+      userId: EPersonMock.id
     };
   }
   describe('when is a not mobile view', () => {
 
     beforeEach(async(() => {
       const window = new HostWindowServiceStub(800);
+      serviceInit();
 
       // refine the test module by declaring the test component
       TestBed.configureTestingModule({
@@ -59,12 +71,7 @@ describe('AuthNavMenuComponent', () => {
         ],
         providers: [
           { provide: HostWindowService, useValue: window },
-          {
-            provide: AuthService, useValue: {
-              setRedirectUrl: () => { /*empty*/
-              }
-            }
-          }
+          { provide: AuthService, useValue: authService }
         ],
         schemas: [
           CUSTOM_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA
@@ -239,6 +246,7 @@ describe('AuthNavMenuComponent', () => {
   describe('when is a mobile view', () => {
     beforeEach(async(() => {
       const window = new HostWindowServiceStub(300);
+      serviceInit();
 
       // refine the test module by declaring the test component
       TestBed.configureTestingModule({
@@ -252,12 +260,7 @@ describe('AuthNavMenuComponent', () => {
         ],
         providers: [
           { provide: HostWindowService, useValue: window },
-          {
-            provide: AuthService, useValue: {
-              setRedirectUrl: () => { /*empty*/
-              }
-            }
-          }
+          { provide: AuthService, useValue: authService }
         ],
         schemas: [
           CUSTOM_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA
diff --git a/src/app/shared/auth-nav-menu/user-menu/user-menu.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/auth-nav-menu/user-menu/user-menu.component.spec.ts
index 512d9e0917..80d03dfc47 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/auth-nav-menu/user-menu/user-menu.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/auth-nav-menu/user-menu/user-menu.component.spec.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import { AppState } from '../../../app.reducer';
 import { MockTranslateLoader } from '../../mocks/mock-translate-loader';
 import { cold } from 'jasmine-marbles';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
+import { AuthService } from '../../../core/auth/auth.service';
+import { of } from 'rxjs';
 
 describe('UserMenuComponent', () => {
 
@@ -20,6 +22,13 @@ describe('UserMenuComponent', () => {
   let deUserMenu: DebugElement;
   let authState: AuthState;
   let authStateLoading: AuthState;
+  let authService: AuthService;
+
+  function serviceInit() {
+    authService = jasmine.createSpyObj('authService', {
+      getAuthenticatedUserFromStore: of(EPersonMock)
+    });
+  }
 
   function init() {
     authState = {
@@ -27,18 +36,19 @@ describe('UserMenuComponent', () => {
       loaded: true,
       loading: false,
       authToken: new AuthTokenInfo('test_token'),
-      user: EPersonMock
+      userId: EPersonMock.id
     };
     authStateLoading = {
       authenticated: true,
       loaded: true,
       loading: true,
       authToken: null,
-      user: EPersonMock
+      userId: EPersonMock.id
     };
   }
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
+    serviceInit();
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [
         StoreModule.forRoot(authReducer),
@@ -49,6 +59,9 @@ describe('UserMenuComponent', () => {
           }
         })
       ],
+      providers: [
+        { provide: AuthService, useValue: authService }
+      ],
       declarations: [
         UserMenuComponent
       ],
@@ -93,7 +106,7 @@ describe('UserMenuComponent', () => {
         b: true
       }));
 
-      expect(component.user$).toBeObservable(cold('c', {
+      expect(component.user$).toBeObservable(cold('(c|)', {
         c: EPersonMock
       }));
 
@@ -132,7 +145,7 @@ describe('UserMenuComponent', () => {
         b: false
       }));
 
-      expect(component.user$).toBeObservable(cold('c', {
+      expect(component.user$).toBeObservable(cold('(c|)', {
         c: EPersonMock
       }));
 
diff --git a/src/app/shared/testing/auth-service-stub.ts b/src/app/shared/testing/auth-service-stub.ts
index 26ce79cb5f..2fd401aa49 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/testing/auth-service-stub.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/testing/auth-service-stub.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { EPersonMock } from './eperson-mock';
 import { EPerson } from '../../core/eperson/models/eperson.model';
 import { createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$ } from './utils';
 import { AuthMethod } from '../../core/auth/models/auth.method';
+import { hasValue } from '../empty.util';
 
 export const authMethodsMock = [
   new AuthMethod('password'),
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ export const authMethodsMock = [
 export class AuthServiceStub {
 
   token: AuthTokenInfo = new AuthTokenInfo('token_test');
+  impersonating: string;
   private _tokenExpired = false;
   private redirectUrl;
 
@@ -47,6 +49,10 @@ export class AuthServiceStub {
     return observableOf(EPersonMock);
   }
 
+  public retrieveAuthenticatedUserById(id: string): Observable<EPerson> {
+    return observableOf(EPersonMock);
+  }
+
   public buildAuthHeader(token?: AuthTokenInfo): string {
     return `Bearer ${token.accessToken}`;
   }
@@ -120,4 +126,28 @@ export class AuthServiceStub {
   retrieveAuthMethodsFromAuthStatus(status: AuthStatus) {
     return observableOf(authMethodsMock);
   }
+
+  impersonate(id: string) {
+    this.impersonating = id;
+  }
+
+  isImpersonating() {
+    return hasValue(this.impersonating);
+  }
+
+  isImpersonatingUser(id: string) {
+    return this.impersonating === id;
+  }
+
+  stopImpersonating() {
+    this.impersonating = undefined;
+  }
+
+  stopImpersonatingAndRefresh() {
+    this.stopImpersonating();
+  }
+
+  getImpersonateID() {
+    return this.impersonating;
+  }
 }