diff --git a/v1/client/client.go b/v1/client/client.go
index 3f4ec2a..b486e66 100644
--- a/v1/client/client.go
+++ b/v1/client/client.go
@@ -217,8 +217,10 @@ func (wsClient *SafeWebsocketClient) connect() error {
 	wsClient.conn = conn
 	wsClient.isConnected = true
 
-	if err := wsClient.authenticateFn(); err != nil {
-		return err
+	if wsClient.authenticateFn != nil {
+		if err := wsClient.authenticateFn(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	wsClient.mu.WriteHandler(func() error {