diff --git a/airbyte-cdk/python/airbyte_cdk/sources/streams/http/http.py b/airbyte-cdk/python/airbyte_cdk/sources/streams/http/http.py
index 77445df9211f..54b97d7d14d7 100644
--- a/airbyte-cdk/python/airbyte_cdk/sources/streams/http/http.py
+++ b/airbyte-cdk/python/airbyte_cdk/sources/streams/http/http.py
@@ -34,11 +34,10 @@ class HttpStream(Stream, ABC):
     def __init__(self, authenticator: Union[AuthBase, HttpAuthenticator] = None):
         self._session = requests.Session()
 
-        self._authenticator = NoAuth()
+        self._authenticator = authenticator or NoAuth()
+
         if isinstance(authenticator, AuthBase):
             self._session.auth = authenticator
-        elif authenticator:
-            self._authenticator = authenticator
 
         if self.use_cache:
             self.cache_file = self.request_cache()