diff --git a/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-net-custom-cni.yml b/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-net-custom-cni.yml
index 8850210c4..3338f4460 100644
--- a/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-net-custom-cni.yml
+++ b/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-net-custom-cni.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,14 @@
 ## Helm repository URL
 # custom_cni_chart_repository_url: ""
 #
+## Helm repository username, if authentication is required
+## Username and password must be defined together
+# custom_cni_chart_repository_username: "<helm_repository_username>"
+#
+## Helm repository password, if authentication is required
+## Store sensitive values securely, for example using Ansible Vault
+# custom_cni_chart_repository_password: "<helm_repository_password>"
+#
 ## Helm chart reference - path to the chart in the repository
 # custom_cni_chart_ref: ""
 #
diff --git a/roles/network_plugin/custom_cni/meta/main.yml b/roles/network_plugin/custom_cni/meta/main.yml
index 4e48c34ad..6856aa993 100644
--- a/roles/network_plugin/custom_cni/meta/main.yml
+++ b/roles/network_plugin/custom_cni/meta/main.yml
@@ -17,3 +17,5 @@ dependencies:
     repositories:
       - name: "{{ custom_cni_chart_repository_name }}"
         url: "{{ custom_cni_chart_repository_url }}"
+        username: "{{ custom_cni_chart_repository_username | default(omit) }}"
+        password: "{{ custom_cni_chart_repository_password | default(omit) }}"