diff --git a/xmodule/mako_block.py b/xmodule/mako_block.py
index abf3a93f3858..f9e84d5e1907 100644
--- a/xmodule/mako_block.py
+++ b/xmodule/mako_block.py
@@ -46,13 +46,6 @@ class MakoTemplateBlockBase:
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        if getattr(self.runtime, 'render_template', None) is None:
-            raise TypeError(
-                '{runtime} must have a render_template function'
-                ' in order to use a MakoDescriptor'.format(
-                    runtime=self.runtime,
-                )
-            )
 
     def get_context(self):
         """
@@ -69,7 +62,7 @@ def studio_view(self, context):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
         """
         # pylint: disable=no-member
         fragment = Fragment(
-            self.runtime.render_template(self.mako_template, self.get_context())
+            self.runtime.service(self, 'mako').render_template(self.mako_template, self.get_context())
         )
         shim_xmodule_js(fragment, self.js_module_name)
         return fragment