diff --git a/lib/cassandra-cql/database.rb b/lib/cassandra-cql/database.rb
index e93dc20..37f20d1 100644
--- a/lib/cassandra-cql/database.rb
+++ b/lib/cassandra-cql/database.rb
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ def connect!
       obj = self
       @connection.add_callback(:post_connect) do
         execute("USE #{@keyspace}")
+        @connection.login(@auth_request) if @auth_request
       end
     end
   
@@ -110,5 +111,15 @@ def schema
       # TODO: This should be replaced with a CQL call that doesn't exist yet
       Schema.new(@connection.describe_keyspace(@keyspace))
     end
+
+    def login!(username, password)
+      request = CassandraCQL::Thrift::AuthenticationRequest.new
+      request.credentials = {'username' => username, 'password' => password}
+      ret = @connection.login(request)
+      # To avoid a double login on the initial connect, we set
+      # @auth_request after the first successful login.
+      @auth_request = request
+      ret
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/database_spec.rb b/spec/database_spec.rb
index beae02e..95e2ad9 100644
--- a/spec/database_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/database_spec.rb
@@ -13,4 +13,13 @@
     end
   end
   
+  describe "login!" do
+    it "should call login! on connection" do
+      creds = { 'username' => 'myuser', 'password' => 'mypass' }
+      @connection.connection.should_receive(:login) do |auth|
+        auth.credentials.should eq(creds)
+      end
+      @connection.login!(creds['username'], creds['password'])
+    end
+  end
 end
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