diff --git a/nbdime/webapp/nbdimeserver.py b/nbdime/webapp/nbdimeserver.py
index e4d98b6f..4c35c7fe 100644
--- a/nbdime/webapp/nbdimeserver.py
+++ b/nbdime/webapp/nbdimeserver.py
@@ -388,6 +388,7 @@ def make_app(**params):
         'jinja2_env': env,
         'local_hostnames': ['localhost', '127.0.0.1'],
         'cookie_secret': base64.encodebytes(os.urandom(32)), # Needed even for an unsecured server.
+        'allow_unauthenticated_access': True,
     }
 
     try: