diff --git a/src/authentication/rh_identity.py b/src/authentication/rh_identity.py
index 9a315b14a..fe54ceda3 100644
--- a/src/authentication/rh_identity.py
+++ b/src/authentication/rh_identity.py
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
 
 from fastapi import HTTPException, Request
 
-from authentication.interface import AuthInterface, AuthTuple
+from authentication.interface import NO_AUTH_TUPLE, AuthInterface, AuthTuple
+from configuration import configuration
 from constants import DEFAULT_VIRTUAL_PATH, NO_USER_TOKEN
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -215,6 +216,10 @@ async def __call__(self, request: Request) -> AuthTuple:
         # Extract header
         identity_header = request.headers.get("x-rh-identity")
         if not identity_header:
+            # Skip auth for health probes when configured
+            if request.url.path in ("/readiness", "/liveness"):
+                if configuration.authentication_configuration.skip_for_health_probes:
+                    return NO_AUTH_TUPLE
             logger.warning("Missing x-rh-identity header")
             raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Missing x-rh-identity header")
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/authentication/test_rh_identity.py b/tests/unit/authentication/test_rh_identity.py
index fd3c76a17..6ac517b9b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/authentication/test_rh_identity.py
+++ b/tests/unit/authentication/test_rh_identity.py
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
 
 import pytest
 from fastapi import HTTPException, Request
+from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
 
+from authentication.interface import NO_AUTH_TUPLE
 from authentication.rh_identity import RHIdentityAuthDependency, RHIdentityData
 from constants import NO_USER_TOKEN
 
@@ -448,3 +450,62 @@ async def test_no_entitlement_data(self, user_identity_data: dict) -> None:
         user_id, username, _, _ = await auth_dep(request)
         assert user_id == "abc123"
         assert username == "user@redhat.com"
+
+
+class TestRHIdentityHealthProbeSkip:
+    """Test suite for health probe skip functionality in RH Identity auth."""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _mock_configuration(
+        mocker: MockerFixture, skip_for_health_probes: bool
+    ) -> None:
+        """Patch the configuration singleton with a mock for probe skip tests."""
+        mock_config = mocker.MagicMock()
+        mock_config.authentication_configuration.skip_for_health_probes = (
+            skip_for_health_probes
+        )
+        mocker.patch("authentication.rh_identity.configuration", mock_config)
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("path", ["/readiness", "/liveness"])
+    async def test_probe_paths_skip_auth_when_enabled(
+        self, mocker: MockerFixture, path: str
+    ) -> None:
+        """Test health probe paths bypass auth when skip_for_health_probes is True."""
+        self._mock_configuration(mocker, skip_for_health_probes=True)
+
+        auth_dep = RHIdentityAuthDependency()
+        request = Request(scope={"type": "http", "headers": [], "path": path})
+
+        result = await auth_dep(request)
+        assert result == NO_AUTH_TUPLE
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("path", ["/readiness", "/liveness"])
+    async def test_probe_paths_require_auth_when_disabled(
+        self, mocker: MockerFixture, path: str
+    ) -> None:
+        """Test health probe paths still require auth when skip_for_health_probes is False."""
+        self._mock_configuration(mocker, skip_for_health_probes=False)
+
+        auth_dep = RHIdentityAuthDependency()
+        request = Request(scope={"type": "http", "headers": [], "path": path})
+
+        with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+            await auth_dep(request)
+        assert exc_info.value.status_code == 401
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("path", ["/", "/v1/query"])
+    async def test_non_probe_paths_require_auth_when_skip_enabled(
+        self, mocker: MockerFixture, path: str
+    ) -> None:
+        """Test non-probe paths still require auth even when skip_for_health_probes is True."""
+        self._mock_configuration(mocker, skip_for_health_probes=True)
+
+        auth_dep = RHIdentityAuthDependency()
+        request = Request(scope={"type": "http", "headers": [], "path": path})
+
+        with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+            await auth_dep(request)
+        assert exc_info.value.status_code == 401