diff --git a/src/matrix-utils.js b/src/matrix-utils.js
index f2f4ec0..977744d 100644
--- a/src/matrix-utils.js
+++ b/src/matrix-utils.js
@@ -26,7 +26,10 @@ function waitForSync(client) {
 }
 
 export async function initClient(clientOptions) {
-  const client = matrix.createClient(clientOptions);
+  const client = matrix.createClient({
+    ...clientOptions,
+    useAuthorizationHeader: true,
+  });
 
   await client.startClient({
     // dirty hack to reduce chance of gappy syncs