diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 154e803..30f7b67 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ Create a `config.yml` file in your docker volume with the following contents:
 frigate:
   frigate_url: http://127.0.0.1:5000
   mqtt_server: 127.0.0.1
-  mqtt_auth: false
   mqtt_username: username
   mqtt_password: password
   main_topic: frigate
diff --git a/index.py b/index.py
index ab13d47..0adca84 100644
--- a/index.py
+++ b/index.py
@@ -529,9 +529,9 @@ def run_mqtt_client():
     mqtt_client.on_connect = on_connect
 
     # check if we are using authentication and set username/password if so
-    if config['frigate'].get('mqtt_auth', False):
+    if config['frigate'].get('mqtt_username', False):
         username = config['frigate']['mqtt_username']
-        password = config['frigate']['mqtt_password']
+        password = config['frigate'].get('mqtt_password', '')
         mqtt_client.username_pw_set(username, password)
 
     mqtt_client.connect(config['frigate']['mqtt_server'])