diff --git a/rosbridge_server/scripts/rosbridge_websocket.py b/rosbridge_server/scripts/rosbridge_websocket.py
index 9c18f2ebf..1f84568d5 100755
--- a/rosbridge_server/scripts/rosbridge_websocket.py
+++ b/rosbridge_server/scripts/rosbridge_websocket.py
@@ -146,8 +146,8 @@ def check_origin(self, origin):
     certfile = rospy.get_param('~certfile', None)
     keyfile = rospy.get_param('~keyfile', None)
     # if authentication should be used
-    authenticate = rospy.get_param('~authenticate')
-    user_auth = rospy.get_param('~user_auth')
+    authenticate = rospy.get_param('~authenticate', False)
+    user_auth = rospy.get_param('~user_auth', False)
     port = rospy.get_param('~port', 9090)
     address = rospy.get_param('~address', "")