diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
index e9bf49d68..f5054eb81 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
@@ -302,6 +302,8 @@ in your Node-RED user directory (${RED.settings.userDir}).
                     // var cred = ""
                     if (this.credentials.user || this.credentials.password) {
                         // cred = `${this.credentials.user}:${this.credentials.password}`;
+                        if (this.credentials.user === undefined) { this.credentials.user = ""}
+                        if (this.credentials.password === undefined) { this.credentials.password = ""}
                         opts.headers.Authorization = "Basic " + Buffer.from(`${this.credentials.user}:${this.credentials.password}`).toString("base64");
                     }
                     // build own basic auth header