diff --git a/src/WebSocketClient.cpp b/src/WebSocketClient.cpp
index ab41b0a..d96937a 100644
--- a/src/WebSocketClient.cpp
+++ b/src/WebSocketClient.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ int WebSocketClient::begin(const char* aPath)
         sendHeader("Connection", "Upgrade");
         sendHeader("Sec-WebSocket-Key", base64RandomKey);
         sendHeader("Sec-WebSocket-Version", "13");
+        
+        if(hasAuth) {
+			sendBasicAuth(_username, _password);
+		}
         endRequest();
 
         status = responseStatusCode();
@@ -72,6 +76,23 @@ int WebSocketClient::begin(const String& aPath)
     return begin(aPath.c_str());
 }
 
+int WebSocketClient::begin(const char* username, const char* password)
+{
+	hasAuth = true;
+	_username = username;
+	_password = password;
+    return begin("/");
+}
+
+int WebSocketClient::begin(const String& aPath, const char* username, const char* password)
+{
+	hasAuth = true;
+	_username = username;
+	_password = password;
+    return begin(aPath.c_str());
+}
+
+
 int WebSocketClient::beginMessage(int aType)
 {
     if (iTxStarted)
diff --git a/src/WebSocketClient.h b/src/WebSocketClient.h
index 4b009e6..704c4d4 100644
--- a/src/WebSocketClient.h
+++ b/src/WebSocketClient.h
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ class WebSocketClient : public HttpClient
      */
     int begin(const char* aPath = "/");
     int begin(const String& aPath);
+    int begin(const char* username, const char* password);
+    int begin(const String& aPath, const char* username, const char* password);
 
     /** Begin to send a message of type (TYPE_TEXT or TYPE_BINARY)
         Use the write or Stream API's to set message content, followed by endMessage
@@ -84,6 +86,9 @@ class WebSocketClient : public HttpClient
     void flushRx();
 
 private:
+	bool hasAuth = false;
+	const char* _username;
+	const char* _password;
     bool iTxStarted;
     uint8_t iTxMessageType;
     uint8_t iTxBuffer[128];