Index: tests/regressiontests/templates/context.py
===================================================================
--- tests/regressiontests/templates/context.py	(revision 17649)
+++ tests/regressiontests/templates/context.py	(working copy)
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 # coding: utf-8
-from django.template import Context
+from django.template import Context, Variable, VariableDoesNotExist
 from django.utils.unittest import TestCase
 
 
 class ContextTests(TestCase):
+
     def test_context(self):
         c = Context({"a": 1, "b": "xyzzy"})
         self.assertEqual(c["a"], 1)
@@ -14,3 +15,12 @@
         self.assertEqual(c.pop(), {"a": 2})
         self.assertEqual(c["a"], 1)
         self.assertEqual(c.get("foo", 42), 42)
+
+    def test_resolve_on_context_method(self):
+        # Regression test for #17778
+        empty_context = Context()
+        self.assertRaises(VariableDoesNotExist,
+                Variable('no_such_variable').resolve, empty_context)
+        self.assertRaises(VariableDoesNotExist,
+                Variable('new').resolve, empty_context)
+