diff --git a/nginx.tmpl b/nginx.tmpl
index d861050..6c87653 100644
--- a/nginx.tmpl
+++ b/nginx.tmpl
@@ -285,8 +285,10 @@ server {
 		{{ end }}
 
 		{{ if (exists (printf "/etc/nginx/htpasswd/%s" $host)) }}
-		auth_basic	"Restricted {{ $host }}";
-		auth_basic_user_file	{{ (printf "/etc/nginx/htpasswd/%s" $host) }};
+		limit_except OPTIONS {
+		  auth_basic	"Restricted {{ $host }}";
+		  auth_basic_user_file	{{ (printf "/etc/nginx/htpasswd/%s" $host) }};
+		}
 		{{ end }}
 		{{ if (exists (printf "/etc/nginx/vhost.d/%s_location" $host)) }}
 		include {{ printf "/etc/nginx/vhost.d/%s_location" $host}};