diff --git a/src/SupabaseClient.ts b/src/SupabaseClient.ts
index 153f406f5..a248d16c3 100644
--- a/src/SupabaseClient.ts
+++ b/src/SupabaseClient.ts
@@ -267,10 +267,14 @@ export default class SupabaseClient<
   private _initRealtimeClient(options: RealtimeClientOptions) {
     const authHeader = options.headers?.Authorization
     const authToken = authHeader?.startsWith('Bearer ') && authHeader.split(' ')[1]
-    return new RealtimeClient(this.realtimeUrl, {
+    const newRealtimeClient = new RealtimeClient(this.realtimeUrl, {
       ...options,
-      params: { ...{ apikey: authToken || this.supabaseKey }, ...options?.params },
+      params: { ...{ apikey: this.supabaseKey }, ...options?.params },
     })
+    if ( authToken ) {
+      newRealtimeClient.setAuth(authToken)
+    }
+    return newRealtimeClient
   }
 
   private _listenForAuthEvents() {