diff --git a/runhouse/resources/hardware/cluster.py b/runhouse/resources/hardware/cluster.py
index 995004f1a..f94d32904 100644
--- a/runhouse/resources/hardware/cluster.py
+++ b/runhouse/resources/hardware/cluster.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def __init__(
 
         self.ips = ips
         self.client = None
-        self.den_auth = den_auth
+        self.den_auth = den_auth or False
         self.cert_config = TLSCertConfig(cert_path=ssl_certfile, key_path=ssl_keyfile)
 
         self.ssl_certfile = ssl_certfile
diff --git a/runhouse/resources/hardware/cluster_factory.py b/runhouse/resources/hardware/cluster_factory.py
index b8cf3e5b6..9f77f5009 100644
--- a/runhouse/resources/hardware/cluster_factory.py
+++ b/runhouse/resources/hardware/cluster_factory.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def cluster(
     ssl_keyfile: str = None,
     ssl_certfile: str = None,
     domain: str = None,
-    den_auth: bool = False,
+    den_auth: bool = None,
     default_env: Union["Env", str] = None,
     dryrun: bool = False,
     **kwargs,
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def cluster(
         domain(str, optional): Domain name for the cluster. Relevant if enabling HTTPs on the cluster.
         den_auth (bool, optional): Whether to use Den authorization on the server. If ``True``, will validate incoming
             requests with a Runhouse token provided in the auth headers of the request with the format:
-            ``{"Authorization": "Bearer <token>"}``. (Default: ``False``).
+            ``{"Authorization": "Bearer <token>"}``. (Default: ``None``).
         default_env (Env or str, optional): Environment that the Runhouse server is started on in the cluster. Used to
             specify an isolated environment (e.g. conda env) or any setup and requirements prior to starting the Runhouse
             server. (Default: ``None``)
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ def cluster(
             ssl_keyfile=ssl_keyfile,
             ssl_certfile=ssl_certfile,
             domain=domain,
+            den_auth=den_auth,
             default_env=default_env,
             kwargs=kwargs if len(kwargs) > 0 else None,
         )
@@ -315,7 +316,7 @@ def ondemand_cluster(
     ssl_keyfile: str = None,
     ssl_certfile: str = None,
     domain: str = None,
-    den_auth: bool = False,
+    den_auth: bool = None,
     default_env: Union["Env", str] = None,
     dryrun: bool = False,
     **kwargs,
@@ -354,7 +355,7 @@ def ondemand_cluster(
         domain(str, optional): Domain name for the cluster. Relevant if enabling HTTPs on the cluster.
         den_auth (bool, optional): Whether to use Den authorization on the server. If ``True``, will validate incoming
             requests with a Runhouse token provided in the auth headers of the request with the format:
-            ``{"Authorization": "Bearer <token>"}``. (Default: ``False``).
+            ``{"Authorization": "Bearer <token>"}``. (Default: ``None``).
         default_env (Env or str, optional): Environment that the Runhouse server is started on in the cluster. Used to
             specify an isolated environment (e.g. conda env) or any setup and requirements prior to starting the Runhouse
             server. (Default: ``None``)
@@ -482,7 +483,7 @@ def sagemaker_cluster(
     ssl_keyfile: str = None,
     ssl_certfile: str = None,
     domain: str = None,
-    den_auth: bool = False,
+    den_auth: bool = None,
     default_env: Union["Env", str] = None,
     dryrun: bool = False,
     **kwargs,
@@ -538,7 +539,7 @@ def sagemaker_cluster(
         domain(str, optional): Domain name for the cluster. Relevant if enabling HTTPs on the cluster.
         den_auth (bool, optional): Whether to use Den authorization on the server. If ``True``, will validate incoming
             requests with a Runhouse token provided in the auth headers of the request with the format:
-            ``{"Authorization": "Bearer <token>"}``. (Default: ``False``).
+            ``{"Authorization": "Bearer <token>"}``. (Default: ``None``).
         default_env (Env or str, optional): Environment that the Runhouse server is started on in the cluster. Used to
             specify an isolated environment (e.g. conda env) or any setup and requirements prior to starting the Runhouse
             server. (Default: ``None``)