diff --git a/cloud/misc/virt.py b/cloud/misc/virt.py
index b59c7ed3de3..65791e43e9f 100644
--- a/cloud/misc/virt.py
+++ b/cloud/misc/virt.py
@@ -128,6 +128,9 @@ class LibvirtConnection(object):
 
         if "xen" in stdout:
             conn = libvirt.open(None)
+        elif "esx" in uri:
+            auth = [[libvirt.VIR_CRED_AUTHNAME, libvirt.VIR_CRED_NOECHOPROMPT], [], None]
+            conn = libvirt.openAuth(uri, auth)
         else:
             conn = libvirt.open(uri)