diff --git a/lib/httpi/request.rb b/lib/httpi/request.rb
index 456a4c2..f9971a2 100644
--- a/lib/httpi/request.rb
+++ b/lib/httpi/request.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ def initialize(args = {})
     # Sets the +url+ to access. Raises an +ArgumentError+ unless the +url+ is valid.
     def url=(url)
       @url = normalize_url! url
+      auth.basic @url.user, @url.password || '' if @url.user
     end
 
     # Returns the +url+ to access.
diff --git a/spec/httpi/request_spec.rb b/spec/httpi/request_spec.rb
index f4b8026..cec1367 100644
--- a/spec/httpi/request_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/httpi/request_spec.rb
@@ -31,6 +31,16 @@
     it "raises an ArgumentError in case of an invalid url" do
       expect { request.url = "invalid" }.to raise_error(ArgumentError)
     end
+
+    it "uses username and password as basic authentication if present in the URL" do
+      request.url = "http://username:password@example.com"
+      request.auth.basic.should == ['username', 'password']
+    end
+
+    it "uses a blank password if only username is specified in the URL" do
+      request.url = "http://username@example.com"
+      request.auth.basic.should == ['username', '']
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#proxy" do