diff --git a/cluster/remove.go b/cluster/remove.go
index 3d80eac3..74d944d8 100644
--- a/cluster/remove.go
+++ b/cluster/remove.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ type Remover struct {
 	timeout time.Duration
 	control Control
 	client  *Client
+	creds   *Credentials
 
 	log *log.Logger
 }
@@ -38,6 +39,11 @@ func NewRemover(client *Client, timeout time.Duration, control Control) *Remover
 	}
 }
 
+// SetCredentials sets the credentials for the Remover.
+func (r *Remover) SetCredentials(creds *Credentials) {
+	r.creds = creds
+}
+
 // Do executes the node-removal operation.
 func (r *Remover) Do(id string, confirm bool) error {
 	rn := &command.RemoveNodeRequest{
@@ -53,7 +59,7 @@ func (r *Remover) Do(id string, confirm bool) error {
 			}
 
 			r.log.Printf("removing node %s from cluster via leader at %s", id, laddr)
-			if innerErr = r.client.RemoveNode(rn, laddr, nil, r.timeout); innerErr != nil {
+			if innerErr = r.client.RemoveNode(rn, laddr, r.creds, r.timeout); innerErr != nil {
 				r.log.Printf("failed to remove node %s from cluster via leader at %s: %s", id, laddr, innerErr)
 				return innerErr
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/rqlited/main.go b/cmd/rqlited/main.go
index b45bcc92..efac3dab 100644
--- a/cmd/rqlited/main.go
+++ b/cmd/rqlited/main.go
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	if cfg.RaftClusterRemoveOnShutdown {
 		remover := cluster.NewRemover(clstrClient, 5*time.Second, str)
+		remover.SetCredentials(credentialsFor(credStr, cfg.JoinAs))
 		log.Printf("initiating removal of this node from cluster before shutdown")
 		if err := remover.Do(cfg.NodeID, true); err != nil {
 			log.Fatalf("failed to remove this node from cluster before shutdown: %s", err.Error())