diff --git a/oras/auth/token.py b/oras/auth/token.py
index cdb8fd0a..d35f734a 100644
--- a/oras/auth/token.py
+++ b/oras/auth/token.py
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ def request_token(self, h: auth_utils.authHeader) -> bool:
         """
         params = {}
         headers = {}
+        if self._basic_auth: # we exchange the basic auth for the token
+            headers["Authorization"] = "Basic %s" % self._basic_auth
 
         # Prepare request to retry
         if h.service: