title: org.mockito.exceptions.misusing.MissingMethodInvocationException: when() requires an argument which has to be 'a method call on a mock'
body: <p>I have developed one spring sample project with a controller and called a static method in it.</p>
  
  <p>When I try to run the code, it leads me to an exception.</p>
  
  <p><strong>LoginController .java</strong></p>
  
  <pre><code>@Controller
  public class LoginController {@ResponseBody
  @RequestMapping(value="/login")
  public String login(){
      System.out.println("in login method");
      String s = SampleClass.method();
      System.out.println("String value :  "+s);
      return "welcome to login page";
  }}
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><strong>SampleClass.java</strong></p>
  
  <pre><code>public class SampleClass {
  
  public static String method(){
      System.out.println("in static method");
      return "static method";
  }}
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><strong>LoginControllerTest.java</strong></p>
  
  <pre><code>@PrepareForTest(SampleClass.class)
  public class LoginControllerTest {
  
  private MockMvc mockMvc;
  
  @InjectMocks
  private LoginController loginController;
  
  
  @Before
  public void setUp() {
  
      System.out.println("in setup");
      PowerMockito.mockStatic(SampleClass.class);
  
      MockitoAnnotations.initMocks(this);
      mockMvc = MockMvcBuilders.standaloneSetup(loginController).build();
      System.out.println("setupdone");
  
  }
  
  @Test
  public void loginTest() throws Exception{
      System.out.println("in login test");
      PowerMockito.when(SampleClass.method()).thenReturn("hello");
      mockMvc.perform(get("/login"))
      //.andDo(print())
      .andExpect(status().isOk());
      System.out.println("test completed");
  }}
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><strong>Error</strong></p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>org.mockito.exceptions.misusing.MissingMethodInvocationException: 
    when() requires an argument which has to be 'a method call on a mock'.
    For example:
        when(mock.getArticles()).thenReturn(articles);</p>
    
    <p>Also, this error might show up because:
    1. you stub either of: final/private/equals()/hashCode() methods.    Those methods <em>cannot</em> be stubbed/verified.    Mocking methods
    declared on non-public parent classes is not supported.
    2. inside when() you don't call method on mock but on some other object.</p>
    
    <p>at org.powermock.api.mockito.PowerMockito.when(PowerMockito.java:495)
      at
    com.junit.example.controller.LoginControllerTest.setUp(LoginControllerTest.java:57)
      at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)  at
    sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)   at
    sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)   at
    java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)   at
    org.junit.runners.model.FrameworkMethod$1.runReflectiveCall(FrameworkMethod.java:47)
      at
    org.junit.internal.runners.model.ReflectiveCallable.run(ReflectiveCallable.java:12)
      at
    org.junit.runners.model.FrameworkMethod.invokeExplosively(FrameworkMethod.java:44)
      at
    org.junit.internal.runners.statements.RunBefores.evaluate(RunBefores.java:24)
      at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.runLeaf(ParentRunner.java:271)    at
    org.junit.runners.BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.runChild(BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.java:70)
      at
    org.junit.runners.BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.runChild(BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.java:50)
      at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner$3.run(ParentRunner.java:238)  at
    org.junit.runners.ParentRunner$1.schedule(ParentRunner.java:63)   at
    org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.runChildren(ParentRunner.java:236)     at
    org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.access$000(ParentRunner.java:53)   at
    org.junit.runners.ParentRunner$2.evaluate(ParentRunner.java:229)  at
    org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.run(ParentRunner.java:309)     at
    org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit4.runner.JUnit4TestReference.run(JUnit4TestReference.java:86)
      at
    org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.TestExecution.run(TestExecution.java:38)
      at
    org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.runTests(RemoteTestRunner.java:459)
      at
    org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.runTests(RemoteTestRunner.java:675)
      at
    org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.run(RemoteTestRunner.java:382)
      at
    org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.main(RemoteTestRunner.java:192)</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Can any one help me out with a solution?</p>