diff --git a/sanic_graphql/graphqlview.py b/sanic_graphql/graphqlview.py
index 4177890..7c19753 100644
--- a/sanic_graphql/graphqlview.py
+++ b/sanic_graphql/graphqlview.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from collections import Mapping
 from functools import partial
 from cgi import parse_header
 
@@ -47,8 +48,13 @@ def get_root_value(self, request):
         return self.root_value
 
     def get_context(self, request):
-        context = self.context or {}
-        if isinstance(context, dict) and 'request' not in context:
+        context = (
+            self.context.copy()
+            if self.context and
+            isinstance(self.context, Mapping)
+            else {}
+        )
+        if isinstance(context, Mapping) and 'request' not in context:
             context.update({'request': request})
         return context
 
diff --git a/tests/test_graphqlview.py b/tests/test_graphqlview.py
index b659539..4ad3918 100644
--- a/tests/test_graphqlview.py
+++ b/tests/test_graphqlview.py
@@ -484,11 +484,8 @@ def test_supports_pretty_printing(app):
 
 
     assert response.status == 200
-    assert response_json(response) == {
-        'data': {
-            'context': 'CUSTOM CONTEXT'
-        }
-    }
+    assert 'data' in response_json(response)
+    assert response_json(response)['data']['context'] == "{'request': {}}"
 
 
 @parametrize_sync_async_app_test('app')
@@ -499,9 +496,9 @@ def test_post_multipart_data(app):
             'Content-Disposition: form-data; name="query"\r\n' +
             '\r\n' +
             query + '\r\n' +
-            '------sanicgraphql--\r\n' + 
-            'Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8\r\n' + 
-            'Content-Disposition: form-data; name="file"; filename="text1.txt"; filename*=utf-8\'\'text1.txt\r\n' + 
+            '------sanicgraphql--\r\n' +
+            'Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8\r\n' +
+            'Content-Disposition: form-data; name="file"; filename="text1.txt"; filename*=utf-8\'\'text1.txt\r\n' +
             '\r\n' +
             '\r\n' +
             '------sanicgraphql--\r\n'