1.2.6: Fatal error: Call to a member function setVar() on a non-object in C:\...\IndexController.php

I'm trying to pass a variable to the view, but am getting the following error:

"Fatal error: Call to a member function setVar() on a non-object in C:...\IndexController.php"

class IndexController extends Phalcon\Mvc\View {
    public function indexAction() {
        $this->view->setVar('test', 'this is a test'); // This is the line it's complaining about
    }
}

Removing this line allows the page to load correctly. What is happening here?