diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7dbd9e0..c5bd138 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -107,11 +107,11 @@ Each JSON configuration file for the gateways can specify detailed settings for
 ```
 
 ## Authentication
-Basic authentication can be enabled using the `--basic-auth` flag. The username and password should be set through environment variables `GATEWAY_USERNAME` and `GATEWAY_PASSWORD`, respectively.
+Basic authentication can be enabled using the `--auth` flag. The username and password should be set through environment variables `GATEWAY_USERNAME` and `GATEWAY_PASSWORD`, respectively.
 
 ### Running the Application
 To run the application with authentication:
 
 ```
-DEBUG=true GATEWAY_USERNAME=myuser GATEWAY_PASSWORD=mypass go run . --config config.json --basic-auth
+DEBUG=true GATEWAY_USERNAME=myuser GATEWAY_PASSWORD=mypass go run . --config config.json --auth
 ```
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 470e544..ae3541f 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func main() {
 				Value: false,
 			},
 			&cli.BoolFlag{
-				Name:  "basic-auth",
+				Name:  "auth",
 				Usage: "Enable basic authentication.",
 				Value: false,
 			},
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func main() {
 			r.Use(middleware.Recoverer)
 			r.Use(middleware.Heartbeat("/health"))
 			// Add basic auth middleware
-			if cc.Bool("basic-auth") {
+			if cc.Bool("auth") {
 				username := os.Getenv("GATEWAY_USERNAME")
 				password := os.Getenv("GATEWAY_PASSWORD")
 				if username == "" || password == "" {