diff --git a/.changeset/beige-birds-film.md b/.changeset/beige-birds-film.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..24f756e50f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/beige-birds-film.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-badges-backend': minor
+---
+
+Fix unauthorized requests by allowing unauthenticated requests
diff --git a/plugins/badges-backend/src/plugin.ts b/plugins/badges-backend/src/plugin.ts
index be965ae4a6..e42ff0aa41 100644
--- a/plugins/badges-backend/src/plugin.ts
+++ b/plugins/badges-backend/src/plugin.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ export const badgesPlugin = createBackendPlugin({
             auth,
           }),
         );
+        httpRouter.addAuthPolicy({
+          path: '/',
+          allow: 'unauthenticated',
+        });
       },
     });
   },