diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index e2d0cd0b..b57abcb8 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+  - fix bug with fetch, passing user/pass in url did not work
+    (Monte)
   - fix occasional wrong error messages on mismatched tags when
     {else}, {elseif}, {foreachelse} or {sectionelse} is involved (messju)
   - fix handling of methods arguments (messju, Manfred Wischin)
diff --git a/libs/plugins/function.fetch.php b/libs/plugins/function.fetch.php
index 17d4c997..cbc3b0e3 100644
--- a/libs/plugins/function.fetch.php
+++ b/libs/plugins/function.fetch.php
@@ -64,8 +64,11 @@ function smarty_function_fetch($params, &$smarty)
                 } else {
                     $port = $uri_parts['port'];
                 }
-                if(empty($uri_parts['user'])) {
-                    $user = '';
+                if(!empty($uri_parts['user'])) {
+                    $user = $uri_parts['user'];
+                }
+                if(!empty($uri_parts['pass'])) {
+                    $pass = $uri_parts['pass'];
                 }
                 // loop through parameters, setup headers
                 foreach($params as $param_key => $param_value) {