diff --git a/professor/util.py b/professor/util.py
index c0bed2d..952630c 100644
--- a/professor/util.py
+++ b/professor/util.py
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ def connect_to(database):
         slaveok=True,
     )
     conndb = conn[database['dbname']]
+    conndb.authenticate(database['username'], database['password'])
 
     return conndb