diff --git a/client/client.yml b/client/client.yml
index 3cd5736c..d3ba2722 100644
--- a/client/client.yml
+++ b/client/client.yml
@@ -5,10 +5,14 @@
 #
 # default-host: https://ntfy.sh
 
-# Defaults below will be used when a topic does not have its own settings
+# Default username and password will be used with "ntfy publish" if no credentials are provided on command line
+# Default username and password will be used with "ntfy subscribe" if no credentials are provided in subscription below
+# For an empty password, use empty double-quotes ("")
 #
 # default-user:
 # default-password:
+
+# Default command will execute after "ntfy subscribe" receives a message if no command is provided in subscription below
 # default-command:
 
 # Subscriptions to topics and their actions. This option is primarily used by the systemd service,
diff --git a/cmd/publish.go b/cmd/publish.go
index 0b995258..efa875bf 100644
--- a/cmd/publish.go
+++ b/cmd/publish.go
@@ -160,6 +160,8 @@ func execPublish(c *cli.Context) error {
 			fmt.Fprintf(c.App.ErrWriter, "\r%s\r", strings.Repeat(" ", 20))
 		}
 		options = append(options, client.WithBasicAuth(user, pass))
+	} else if conf.DefaultUser != "" && conf.DefaultPassword != nil {
+		options = append(options, client.WithBasicAuth(conf.DefaultUser, *conf.DefaultPassword))
 	}
 	if pid > 0 {
 		newMessage, err := waitForProcess(pid)