diff --git a/module_build_service/auth.py b/module_build_service/auth.py
index 43691e2c..8bfb9eba 100644
--- a/module_build_service/auth.py
+++ b/module_build_service/auth.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def get_user(request):
 
     if app.config['NO_AUTH']:
         log.debug("Authorization is disabled.")
-        return
+        return "anonymous", {"packager"}
 
     _load_secrets()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_auth.py b/tests/test_auth.py
index 2c562cba..fa430b7c 100644
--- a/tests/test_auth.py
+++ b/tests/test_auth.py
@@ -104,7 +104,9 @@ class TestAuthModule(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_disable_authentication(self):
         with patch.dict('module_build_service.app.config', {'NO_AUTH': True}, clear=True):
             request = mock.MagicMock()
-            eq_(module_build_service.auth.get_user(request), None)
+            username, groups = module_build_service.auth.get_user(request)
+            eq_(username, "anonymous")
+            eq_(groups, {"packager"})
 
     @patch('module_build_service.auth.client_secrets', None)
     def test_misconfiguring_oidc_client_secrets_should_be_failed(self):