diff --git a/magneticow/magneticow/__main__.py b/magneticow/magneticow/__main__.py
index dd0f777..369032c 100644
--- a/magneticow/magneticow/__main__.py
+++ b/magneticow/magneticow/__main__.py
@@ -75,8 +75,15 @@ def parse_args() -> argparse.Namespace:
         "--port", action="store", type=int, required=True,
         help="the port number magneticow web server should listen on"
     )
-    parser.add_argument(
-        "--user", action="append", nargs=2, metavar=("USERNAME", "PASSWORD"), type=str, required=True,
+
+    auth_group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=True)
+
+    auth_group.add_argument(
+        "--no-auth", dest='noauth', action="store_true", default=False,
+        help="make the web interface available without authentication"
+    )
+    auth_group.add_argument(
+        "--user", action="append", nargs=2, metavar=("USERNAME", "PASSWORD"), type=str,
         help="the pair(s) of username and password for basic HTTP authentication"
     )
 
diff --git a/magneticow/magneticow/authorization.py b/magneticow/magneticow/authorization.py
index 519bfb4..ac9bf97 100644
--- a/magneticow/magneticow/authorization.py
+++ b/magneticow/magneticow/authorization.py
@@ -45,8 +45,9 @@ def requires_auth(f):
     @functools.wraps(f)
     def decorated(*args, **kwargs):
         auth = flask.request.authorization
-        if not auth or not is_authorized(auth.username, auth.password):
-            return authenticate()
+        if not flask.current_app.arguments.noauth:
+            if not auth or not is_authorized(auth.username, auth.password):
+                return authenticate()
         return f(*args, **kwargs)
     return decorated
 # END OF THE 3RD PARTY COPYRIGHTED CONTENT