diff --git a/deps/rabbitmq_auth_backend_http/src/rabbit_auth_backend_http.erl b/deps/rabbitmq_auth_backend_http/src/rabbit_auth_backend_http.erl
index 63bead42691c..44ab1dee6224 100644
--- a/deps/rabbitmq_auth_backend_http/src/rabbit_auth_backend_http.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbitmq_auth_backend_http/src/rabbit_auth_backend_http.erl
@@ -46,8 +46,12 @@ user_login_authentication(Username, AuthProps) ->
 
 user_login_authorization(Username, AuthProps) ->
     case user_login_authentication(Username, AuthProps) of
-        {ok, #auth_user{impl = Impl}} -> {ok, Impl};
-        Else                          -> Else
+        {ok, #auth_user{impl = Impl, tags = Tags}} when is_list(Tags), length(Tags) > 0 ->
+            {ok, Impl, Tags};
+        {ok, #auth_user{impl = Impl}} ->
+            {ok, Impl};
+        Else ->
+            Else
     end.
 
 check_vhost_access(#auth_user{username = Username, tags = Tags}, VHost, undefined) ->