diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
index 1d8bc643a..2a8712878 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
@@ -206,10 +206,11 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                 }
             }
             var parsedURL = new URL(url)
-            if (parsedURL.username) {
+            this.credentials = this.credentials || {}
+            if (parsedURL.username && !this.credentials.user) {
                 this.credentials.user = parsedURL.username
             }
-            if (parsedURL.password) {
+            if (parsedURL.password && !this.credentials.password) {
                 this.credentials.password = parsedURL.password
             }
             if (Object.keys(this.credentials).length != 0) {