diff --git a/CHANGES/1254.bugfix b/CHANGES/1254.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..00a6b61f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/1254.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed a bug that disallowed users to configure custom authentication classes for the token server.
diff --git a/pulp_container/app/exceptions.py b/pulp_container/app/exceptions.py
index 8b2c998ed..634b610b6 100644
--- a/pulp_container/app/exceptions.py
+++ b/pulp_container/app/exceptions.py
@@ -1,4 +1,19 @@
-from rest_framework.exceptions import NotFound, ParseError
+from rest_framework import status, views
+from rest_framework.exceptions import (
+    AuthenticationFailed,
+    NotAuthenticated,
+    NotFound,
+    ParseError,
+)
+
+
+def unauthorized_exception_handler(exc, context):
+    response = views.exception_handler(exc, context)
+
+    if isinstance(exc, (AuthenticationFailed, NotAuthenticated)):
+        response.status_code = status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+
+    return response
 
 
 class RepositoryNotFound(NotFound):
diff --git a/pulp_container/app/registry_api.py b/pulp_container/app/registry_api.py
index 8318a66eb..464497e15 100644
--- a/pulp_container/app/registry_api.py
+++ b/pulp_container/app/registry_api.py
@@ -357,7 +357,6 @@ class BearerTokenView(APIView):
     """
 
     # Allow everyone to access but still value authenticated users.
-    authentication_classes = [BasicAuthentication]
     permission_classes = []
 
     def get(self, request):
diff --git a/pulp_container/app/settings.py b/pulp_container/app/settings.py
index a1e413b24..63652514b 100644
--- a/pulp_container/app/settings.py
+++ b/pulp_container/app/settings.py
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
+from django.conf import settings
+
 DRF_ACCESS_POLICY = {
     "dynaconf_merge_unique": True,
     "reusable_conditions": ["pulp_container.app.global_access_conditions"],
 }
+
+REST_FRAMEWORK = settings.REST_FRAMEWORK
+REST_FRAMEWORK.update(
+    {"EXCEPTION_HANDLER": "pulp_container.app.exceptions.unauthorized_exception_handler"}
+)