diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Collections/Collection.php b/src/Illuminate/Collections/Collection.php
index 0e18e2c2a1d8..23059c37eab1 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Collections/Collection.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Collections/Collection.php
@@ -1066,21 +1066,21 @@ public function splitIn($numberOfGroups)
      */
     public function sole($key = null, $operator = null, $value = null)
     {
-        if (func_num_args() <= 1) {
-            $items = $this->when($key)->filter($key);
+        $filter = func_num_args() > 1
+            ? $this->operatorForWhere(...func_get_args())
+            : $key;
 
-            if ($items->isEmpty()) {
-                throw new ItemNotFoundException;
-            }
+        $items = $this->when($filter)->filter($filter);
 
-            if ($items->count() > 1) {
-                throw new MultipleItemsFoundException;
-            }
+        if ($items->isEmpty()) {
+            throw new ItemNotFoundException;
+        }
 
-            return $items->first();
+        if ($items->count() > 1) {
+            throw new MultipleItemsFoundException;
         }
 
-        return $this->sole($this->operatorForWhere(...func_get_args()));
+        return $items->first();
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Collections/LazyCollection.php b/src/Illuminate/Collections/LazyCollection.php
index 8046f3aa421b..76f970fef6c4 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Collections/LazyCollection.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Collections/LazyCollection.php
@@ -1024,16 +1024,16 @@ public function split($numberOfGroups)
      */
     public function sole($key = null, $operator = null, $value = null)
     {
-        if (func_num_args() <= 1) {
-            return $this
-                ->when($key)
-                ->filter($key)
-                ->take(2)
-                ->collect()
-                ->sole();
-        }
-
-        return $this->sole($this->operatorForWhere(...func_get_args()));
+        $filter = func_num_args() > 1
+            ? $this->operatorForWhere(...func_get_args())
+            : $key;
+
+        return $this
+            ->when($filter)
+            ->filter($filter)
+            ->take(2)
+            ->collect()
+            ->sole();
     }
 
     /**