diff --git a/tests/src/test/resources/application.conf.j2 b/tests/src/test/resources/application.conf.j2
index 47ed2a1013e..7ec6278bf49 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/resources/application.conf.j2
+++ b/tests/src/test/resources/application.conf.j2
@@ -80,6 +80,12 @@ whisk {
         client-auth = "{{ invoker.ssl.clientAuth }}"
       }
     }
+    credentials {
+      controller {
+        username = {{ controller.username }}
+        password = {{ controller.password }}
+      }
+    }
     user-events {
         enabled = {{ user_events }}
     }