diff --git a/ocis-pkg/natsjsregistry/options.go b/ocis-pkg/natsjsregistry/options.go
index dfcda616a..a6e862a62 100644
--- a/ocis-pkg/natsjsregistry/options.go
+++ b/ocis-pkg/natsjsregistry/options.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 
 type storeOptionsKey struct{}
 type expiryKey struct{}
+type authKey struct{}
 
 // StoreOptions sets the options for the underlying store
 func StoreOptions(opts []store.Option) registry.Option {
@@ -30,3 +31,13 @@ func ServiceExpiry(t time.Duration) registry.Option {
 		o.Context = context.WithValue(o.Context, expiryKey{}, t)
 	}
 }
+
+// Authenticate sets the username/password for the nats connection
+func Authenticate(username, password string) registry.Option {
+	return func(o *registry.Options) {
+		if o.Context == nil {
+			o.Context = context.Background()
+		}
+		o.Context = context.WithValue(o.Context, authKey{}, []string{username, password})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/ocis-pkg/natsjsregistry/registry.go b/ocis-pkg/natsjsregistry/registry.go
index 1685515a2..d751229b1 100644
--- a/ocis-pkg/natsjsregistry/registry.go
+++ b/ocis-pkg/natsjsregistry/registry.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	natsjskv "github.com/go-micro/plugins/v4/store/nats-js-kv"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
 	"go-micro.dev/v4/registry"
 	"go-micro.dev/v4/store"
 	"go-micro.dev/v4/util/cmd"
@@ -133,5 +134,11 @@ func storeOptions(opts registry.Options) []store.Option {
 	if so, ok := opts.Context.Value(storeOptionsKey{}).([]store.Option); ok {
 		storeoptions = append(storeoptions, so...)
 	}
-	return storeoptions
+	natsOptions := nats.GetDefaultOptions()
+	natsOptions.Name = "nats-js-kv-registry"
+	if auth, ok := opts.Context.Value(authKey{}).([]string); ok {
+		natsOptions.User = auth[0]
+		natsOptions.Password = auth[1]
+	}
+	return append(storeoptions, natsjskv.NatsOptions(natsOptions))
 }
diff --git a/ocis-pkg/registry/registry.go b/ocis-pkg/registry/registry.go
index ed9ece2ae..cee918bf8 100644
--- a/ocis-pkg/registry/registry.go
+++ b/ocis-pkg/registry/registry.go
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	registryEnv        = "MICRO_REGISTRY"
-	registryAddressEnv = "MICRO_REGISTRY_ADDRESS"
+	registryEnv         = "MICRO_REGISTRY"
+	registryAddressEnv  = "MICRO_REGISTRY_ADDRESS"
+	regisryUsernameEnv  = "MICRO_REGISTRY_AUTH_USERNAME"
+	registryPasswordEnv = "MICRO_REGISTRY_AUTH_PASSWORD"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -68,9 +70,10 @@ func GetRegistry() mRegistry.Registry {
 			)
 		case "memory":
 			reg = memr.NewRegistry()
-		case "natsjs":
+		case "natsjs", "nats-js", "nats-js-kv": // for backwards compatibility - we will stick with one of those
 			reg = natsjsregistry.NewRegistry(
 				mRegistry.Addrs(addresses...),
+				natsjsregistry.Authenticate(os.Getenv(regisryUsernameEnv), os.Getenv(registryPasswordEnv)),
 			)
 		default:
 			reg = mdnsr.NewRegistry()