diff --git a/src/app/core/auth/auth.effects.spec.ts b/src/app/core/auth/auth.effects.spec.ts
index 7153c5ebbd..2e6ba917aa 100644
--- a/src/app/core/auth/auth.effects.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/auth/auth.effects.spec.ts
@@ -221,7 +221,8 @@ describe('AuthEffects', () => {
 
         expect(authEffects.checkTokenCookie$).toBeObservable(expected);
         authEffects.checkTokenCookie$.subscribe(() => {
-          expect(authServiceStub.setExternalAuthStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
+          expect(authServiceStub.setExternalAuthStatus).toHaveBeenCalled();
+          expect(authServiceStub.isExternalAuthentication).toBeTrue();
           expect((authEffects as any).authorizationsService.invalidateAuthorizationsRequestCache).toHaveBeenCalled();
         });
       });
diff --git a/src/app/core/auth/auth.service.ts b/src/app/core/auth/auth.service.ts
index fae5872c89..6604936cde 100644
--- a/src/app/core/auth/auth.service.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/auth/auth.service.ts
@@ -156,10 +156,19 @@ export class AuthService {
     return this.store.pipe(select(isAuthenticatedLoaded));
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Used to set the external authentication status when authenticating via an
+   * external authentication system (e.g. Shibboleth).
+   * @param external
+   */
   public setExternalAuthStatus(external: boolean) {
     this.store.dispatch(new SetAuthCookieStatus(external));
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns true if an external authentication system (e.g. Shibboleth) is being used
+   * for authentication. Returns false otherwise.
+   */
   public isExternalAuthentication(): Observable<boolean> {
     return this.store.pipe(
       select(getExternalAuthCookieStatus));
diff --git a/src/app/core/auth/selectors.ts b/src/app/core/auth/selectors.ts
index 16246fb14c..aba739edf6 100644
--- a/src/app/core/auth/selectors.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/auth/selectors.ts
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ export const isAuthenticated = createSelector(getAuthState, _isAuthenticated);
 export const isAuthenticatedLoaded = createSelector(getAuthState, _isAuthenticatedLoaded);
 
 /**
- * Returns the authentication cookie status. Expect to be ture when external authentication
+ * Returns the authentication cookie status. Expect to be true when external authentication
  * is used.
  * @function getExternalAuthCookieStatus
  * @param {AuthState} state
diff --git a/src/app/shared/testing/auth-service.stub.ts b/src/app/shared/testing/auth-service.stub.ts
index e5ae355658..7f3d040042 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/testing/auth-service.stub.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/testing/auth-service.stub.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export class AuthServiceStub {
   token: AuthTokenInfo = new AuthTokenInfo('token_test');
   impersonating: string;
   private _tokenExpired = false;
+  private _isExternalAuth = false;
   private redirectUrl;
 
   constructor() {
@@ -123,11 +124,11 @@ export class AuthServiceStub {
     return;
   }
   setExternalAuthStatus(externalCookie: boolean) {
-    return;
+    this._isExternalAuth = externalCookie;
   }
 
   isExternalAuthentication(): Observable<boolean> {
-    return;
+    return observableOf(this._isExternalAuth);
   }
 
   retrieveAuthMethodsFromAuthStatus(status: AuthStatus) {
diff --git a/src/modules/app/browser-init.service.ts b/src/modules/app/browser-init.service.ts
index 254406dc7e..61d57f10f9 100644
--- a/src/modules/app/browser-init.service.ts
+++ b/src/modules/app/browser-init.service.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export class BrowserInitService extends InitService {
     protected authService: AuthService,
     protected themeService: ThemeService,
     protected menuService: MenuService,
-    private rootDatatService: RootDataService
+    private rootDataService: RootDataService
   ) {
     super(
       store,
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ export class BrowserInitService extends InitService {
         filter((externalAuth: boolean) => externalAuth)
       ).subscribe(() => {
         // Clear the transferState data.
-        this.rootDatatService.invalidateRootCache();
+        this.rootDataService.invalidateRootCache();
         this.authService.setExternalAuthStatus(false);
       }
     );