diff --git a/lib/runner/extensions/item.command.js b/lib/runner/extensions/item.command.js
index aee503f61..f7400ecc9 100644
--- a/lib/runner/extensions/item.command.js
+++ b/lib/runner/extensions/item.command.js
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ module.exports = {
 
                 ctxTemplate;
 
+            // set reference to the Auth instance to the request,
+            _.set(item, 'request.auth', item.getAuth());
+
             // validate minimum parameters required for the command to work
             if (!(item && coords)) {
                 return next(new Error('runtime: item execution is missing required parameters'));