diff --git a/grid5000/__init__.py b/grid5000/__init__.py
index db84e6ff4d8d454e024f63e9c4da1831544ad521..346a70b4c8868f4d48cdf02991b2e61046076ccf 100644
--- a/grid5000/__init__.py
+++ b/grid5000/__init__.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class Grid5000(object):
         session=None,
         sslcert=None,
         sslkey=None,
+        ssluser='anonymous',
         **kwargs
     ):
         self._uri = uri
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ class Grid5000(object):
         self.client_cert = None
         if sslcert is not None:
             self.client_ssl = True
+            self.default_ssl_user = ssluser
             if sslkey is not None:
                 self.client_cert = (sslcert, sslkey)
             else:
@@ -161,8 +163,8 @@ class Grid5000(object):
                 request_headers["X-Api-User-CN"] = user_id
                 request_headers["X-Remote-Ident"] = user_id
             else:
-                request_headers["X-Api-User-CN"] = "anonymous"
-                request_headers["X-Remote-Ident"] = "anonymous"
+                request_headers["X-Api-User-CN"] = self.default_ssl_user
+                request_headers["X-Remote-Ident"] = self.default_ssl_user
         else:
             res["auth"] = self._http_auth