diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/auth/Auth.py b/tools/python/jwutils/auth/Auth.py
index 82396b9..01106aa 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/auth/Auth.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/auth/Auth.py
@@ -72,7 +72,13 @@ class User: # export
 class Auth(abc.ABC): # export
 
     @classmethod
-    def load(cls, tp: str, conf: Config) -> Self:
+    def load(cls, conf: Config, tp: str='') -> Self:
+        if tp == '':
+            tp = conf.get('type')
+            if tp is None:
+                msg = f'No type specified in auth configuration'
+                conf.dump(ERR, msg)
+                raise Exception(msg)
         return load_object(f'jwutils.auth.{tp}.Auth', Auth, 'Auth', conf)
 
     def __init__(self, conf: Config):