diff --git a/src/main/java/org/sonatype/nexus/plugins/cargo/registry/CargoRegistryFacetImpl.java b/src/main/java/org/sonatype/nexus/plugins/cargo/registry/CargoRegistryFacetImpl.java
index 1eab6ed..28d24c0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/sonatype/nexus/plugins/cargo/registry/CargoRegistryFacetImpl.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/sonatype/nexus/plugins/cargo/registry/CargoRegistryFacetImpl.java
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ public void writeConfigJson() throws Exception {
         JsonObject config = new JsonObject();
         config.addProperty("dl", this.getRepository().getUrl() + "/api/v1/crates");
         config.addProperty("api", this.getRepository().getUrl());
+        config.addProperty("auth-required", true);
         JsonArray allowedRegistries = new JsonArray();
         allowedRegistries.add(new JsonPrimitive(this.config.allowedRegistries.toString()));
         config.add("allowed-registries", allowedRegistries);