diff --git a/src/Client.cc b/src/Client.cc
index a9df576..4c6c1fa 100644
--- a/src/Client.cc
+++ b/src/Client.cc
@@ -138,7 +138,8 @@ Client::Client(const Napi::CallbackInfo &info) : Napi::ObjectWrap<Client>(info)
   if (clientConfig.Has(CFG_AUTH) && clientConfig.Get(CFG_AUTH).IsObject()) {
     Napi::Object obj = clientConfig.Get(CFG_AUTH).ToObject();
     if (obj.Has(CFG_AUTH_PROP) && obj.Get(CFG_AUTH_PROP).IsObject()) {
-      Authentication *auth = Authentication::Unwrap(obj.Get(CFG_AUTH_PROP).ToObject());
+      this->authRef_ = Napi::Persistent(obj.Get(CFG_AUTH_PROP).As<Napi::Object>());
+      Authentication *auth = Authentication::Unwrap(this->authRef_.Value());
       pulsar_client_configuration_set_auth(cClientConfig.get(), auth->GetCAuthentication());
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/Client.h b/src/Client.h
index ee81bb5..b761d36 100644
--- a/src/Client.h
+++ b/src/Client.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class Client : public Napi::ObjectWrap<Client> {
   std::shared_ptr<pulsar_client_t> cClient;
   std::shared_ptr<pulsar_client_configuration_t> cClientConfig;
   pulsar_logger_level_t logLevel = pulsar_logger_level_t::pulsar_INFO;
+  Napi::ObjectReference authRef_;
 
   Napi::Value CreateProducer(const Napi::CallbackInfo &info);
   Napi::Value Subscribe(const Napi::CallbackInfo &info);