diff --git a/CHANGES/5819.bugfix b/CHANGES/5819.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3adab56b0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/5819.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add an `authentication_header` method to make JSONHeaderRemoteAuthentication return proper 401 when the request is not properly authenticated.
diff --git a/pulpcore/app/authentication.py b/pulpcore/app/authentication.py
index 93b0be8ce9..6187506e2b 100644
--- a/pulpcore/app/authentication.py
+++ b/pulpcore/app/authentication.py
@@ -72,3 +72,6 @@ def authenticate(self, request):
 
         _logger.debug(_("User {user} authenticated.").format(user=remote_user))
         return (user, None)
+
+    def authenticate_header(self, request):
+        return "JSONHeaderRemoteAuthentication"