diff --git a/packages/@ember/-internals/routing/lib/services/router.ts b/packages/@ember/-internals/routing/lib/services/router.ts
index c675b9e8087..68f2de42293 100644
--- a/packages/@ember/-internals/routing/lib/services/router.ts
+++ b/packages/@ember/-internals/routing/lib/services/router.ts
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ export default class RouterService extends Service {
      @public
    */
   urlFor(routeName: string, ...args: any[]) {
+    this._router.setupRouter();
     return this._router.generate(routeName, ...args);
   }
 
@@ -375,6 +376,7 @@ export default class RouterService extends Service {
       `You must pass a url that begins with the application's rootURL "${this.rootURL}"`,
       url.indexOf(this.rootURL) === 0
     );
+    this._router.setupRouter();
     let internalURL = cleanURL(url, this.rootURL);
     return this._router._routerMicrolib.recognize(internalURL);
   }
@@ -395,6 +397,7 @@ export default class RouterService extends Service {
       `You must pass a url that begins with the application's rootURL "${this.rootURL}"`,
       url.indexOf(this.rootURL) === 0
     );
+    this._router.setupRouter();
     let internalURL = cleanURL(url, this.rootURL);
     return this._router._routerMicrolib.recognizeAndLoad(internalURL);
   }
diff --git a/packages/ember/tests/routing/router_service_test/non_application_test_test.js b/packages/ember/tests/routing/router_service_test/non_application_test_test.js
index add81994bdd..f24f24b8e00 100644
--- a/packages/ember/tests/routing/router_service_test/non_application_test_test.js
+++ b/packages/ember/tests/routing/router_service_test/non_application_test_test.js
@@ -66,14 +66,15 @@ moduleFor(
     }
 
     ['@test RouterService#urlFor returns url'](assert) {
-      let router = this.owner.lookup('router:main');
-      router.setupRouter();
       assert.equal(this.routerService.urlFor('parent.child'), '/child');
     }
 
     ['@test RouterService#transitionTo with basic route'](assert) {
       assert.expect(2);
 
+      // Callers who want to actually execute a transition in a non-application
+      // test are doing something weird and therefore should do
+      // `owner.setupRouter()` explicitly in their tests.
       let componentInstance;
       let router = this.owner.lookup('router:main');
       router.setupRouter();
@@ -107,8 +108,6 @@ moduleFor(
     }
 
     ['@test RouterService#recognize recognize returns routeInfo'](assert) {
-      let router = this.owner.lookup('router:main');
-      router.setupRouter();
       let routeInfo = this.routerService.recognize('/dynamic-with-child/123/1?a=b');
       assert.ok(routeInfo);
       let { name, localName, parent, child, params, queryParams, paramNames } = routeInfo;