diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8717a28..db1ae02 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,19 +28,28 @@ For the LLaMA2 license agreement, please check the Meta Platforms, Inc official
 - [Optional] Create a virtual python environment with the command `python -m venv .venv` and activate it with `source .venv/bin/activate`
 - Install dependencies with `pip install -r requirements.txt`
 - Create an account on [Replicate](https://replicate.com/)
+- Make your own `.env` file with the command `cp .env_template .env`
+- Edit the `.env` file and add your:
+    - [Replicate API token](https://replicate.com/account) as `REPLICATE_API_TOKEN`
+
+*If you DON'T want to use authentication...*
+- Just run the app with the command `streamlit run llama2_chatbot.py -- --noauth`
+    - (Note the two sets of dashes. This is required for Streamlit to interpret the args correctly, see docs [here](https://docs.streamlit.io/library/advanced-features/cli).)
+
+*If you DO want to use authentication...*
 - Create an account on [Auth0 (free)](https://auth0.com/) and configure your application
     - Create a Single Page Application
     - Navigate to the Settings tab for that application
     - If you are running the app locally: set Allowed Web Origins to `http://localhost:8501` and set Allowed Callback URLs to `http://localhost:8501/component/auth0_component.login_button/index.html`
     - To run on a remote server: set Allowed Web Origins to `https://<your_domain>` and set Allowed Callback URLs to `http://<your_domain>/component/auth0_component.login_button/index.html`
     - Copy Client ID and Domain to use in the next step
-- Make your own `.env` file with the command `cp .env_template .env`. Then edit the `.env` file and add your:
-    - [Replicate API token](https://replicate.com/account) as `REPLICATE_API_TOKEN`
+- Edit the `.env` file again and add your:
     - [Auth0 Client ID](https://auth0.com/docs/get-started/applications/application-settings) as `AUTH0_CLIENTID`
     - [Auth0 Domain](https://auth0.com/docs/get-started/applications/application-settings) as `AUTH0_DOMAIN`
-    - For your convenience, we include common model endpoints already in the `.env_template` file
 - Run the app with `streamlit run llama2_chatbot.py`
-- Dockerfile included to [deploy this app](#deploying-on-flyio) in Fly.io
+
+*To deploy to production...*
+- `Dockerfile` is included to package the app and [deploy in Fly.io](#deploying-on-flyio) or other hosting providers that support Docker images
 
 (Note: if you are using a Mac, you may need to use the command `python3` instead of `python` and `pip3` instead of `pip`)
 
diff --git a/llama2_chatbot.py b/llama2_chatbot.py
index d2fc046..53cad67 100644
--- a/llama2_chatbot.py
+++ b/llama2_chatbot.py
@@ -14,13 +14,25 @@
 """
 #External libraries:
 import streamlit as st
-import replicate
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 load_dotenv()
 import os
+import argparse
 from utils import debounce_replicate_run
 from auth0_component import login_button
 
+# parse comamnd line args
+parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+parser.add_argument('--noauth', action='store_true', help='turns off auth')
+try:
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    use_auth = not args.noauth
+except SystemExit as e:
+    # This exception will be raised if --help or invalid command line arguments
+    # are used. Currently streamlit prevents the program from exiting normally
+    # so we have to do a hard exit.
+    os._exit(e.code)
+
 ###Global variables:###
 REPLICATE_API_TOKEN = os.environ.get('REPLICATE_API_TOKEN', default='')
 #Your your (Replicate) models' endpoints:
@@ -32,8 +44,11 @@
 AUTH0_CLIENTID = os.environ.get('AUTH0_CLIENTID', default='')
 AUTH0_DOMAIN = os.environ.get('AUTH0_DOMAIN', default='')
 
-if not (REPLICATE_API_TOKEN and REPLICATE_MODEL_ENDPOINT13B and REPLICATE_MODEL_ENDPOINT7B and 
-        AUTH0_CLIENTID and AUTH0_DOMAIN):
+if not (
+        REPLICATE_API_TOKEN and
+        REPLICATE_MODEL_ENDPOINT7B and REPLICATE_MODEL_ENDPOINT13B and REPLICATE_MODEL_ENDPOINT70B and
+        ((not use_auth) or (AUTH0_CLIENTID and AUTH0_DOMAIN))
+    ):
     st.warning("Add a `.env` file to your app directory with the keys specified in `.env_template` to continue.")
     st.stop()
 
@@ -115,9 +130,10 @@ def clear_history():
     # add logout button
     def logout():
         del st.session_state['user_info']
-    logout_button = btn_col2.button("Logout",
-                                use_container_width=True,
-                                on_click=logout)
+    if use_auth:
+        logout_button = btn_col2.button("Logout",
+                                    use_container_width=True,
+                                    on_click=logout)
         
     # add links to relevant resources for users to select
     st.sidebar.write(" ")
@@ -175,8 +191,7 @@ def logout():
         st.session_state.chat_dialogue.append({"role": "assistant", "content": full_response})
 
 
-if 'user_info' in st.session_state:
-# if user_info:
+if 'user_info' in st.session_state or (not use_auth):
     render_app()
 else:
     st.write("Please login to use the app. This is just to prevent abuse, we're not charging for usage.")