diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 17410a4..eccd9a0 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
             nopreempt: True
             priority: 100 (highest priority must be on primary server, different for cluster members)
             virtual_router_id: 51
+            auth_type: AH
             password: pass
             address: 192.168.10.1
             interface: eth0
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@
             nopreempt: True
             priority: 150 (highest priority must be on primary server, different for cluster members)
             virtual_router_id: 52
+            auth_type: PASS
             password: pass
             address: 10.0.0.5
             interface: eth1
diff --git a/keepalived/files/keepalived.conf b/keepalived/files/keepalived.conf
index bb88504..cdff79c 100644
--- a/keepalived/files/keepalived.conf
+++ b/keepalived/files/keepalived.conf
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 {%- endif %}
     advert_int 1
     authentication {
-        auth_type PASS
+        auth_type {{ instance.get('auth_type', 'AH') }}
         auth_pass {{ instance.password }}
     }
     virtual_ipaddress {