diff --git a/lib/http/auth/auth.go b/lib/http/auth/auth.go
index f7e7143ba..59883bfdd 100644
--- a/lib/http/auth/auth.go
+++ b/lib/http/auth/auth.go
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ To create an htpasswd file:
 The password file can be updated while rclone is running.
 
 Use --realm to set the authentication realm.
+
+Use --salt to change the password hashing salt from the default.
 `
 
 // CustomAuthFn if used will be used to authenticate user, pass. If an error
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	Realm     string       // realm for authentication
 	BasicUser string       // single username for basic auth if not using Htpasswd
 	BasicPass string       // password for BasicUser
+	Salt      string       // password hashing salt
 	Auth      CustomAuthFn `json:"-"` // custom Auth (not set by command line flags)
 }
 
@@ -53,14 +56,16 @@ func Auth(opt Options) http.Middleware {
 	} else if opt.HtPasswd != "" {
 		return HtPasswdAuth(opt.HtPasswd, opt.Realm)
 	} else if opt.BasicUser != "" {
-		return SingleAuth(opt.BasicUser, opt.BasicPass, opt.Realm)
+		return SingleAuth(opt.BasicUser, opt.BasicPass, opt.Realm, opt.Salt)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
 // Options set by command line flags
 var (
-	Opt = Options{}
+	Opt = Options{
+		Salt: "dlPL2MqE",
+	}
 )
 
 // AddFlagsPrefix adds flags for http/auth
@@ -69,6 +74,7 @@ func AddFlagsPrefix(flagSet *pflag.FlagSet, prefix string, Opt *Options) {
 	flags.StringVarP(flagSet, &Opt.Realm, prefix+"realm", "", Opt.Realm, "realm for authentication")
 	flags.StringVarP(flagSet, &Opt.BasicUser, prefix+"user", "", Opt.BasicUser, "User name for authentication.")
 	flags.StringVarP(flagSet, &Opt.BasicPass, prefix+"pass", "", Opt.BasicPass, "Password for authentication.")
+	flags.StringVarP(flagSet, &Opt.Salt, prefix+"salt", "", Opt.Salt, "Password hashing salt")
 }
 
 // AddFlags adds flags for the http/auth
diff --git a/lib/http/auth/basic.go b/lib/http/auth/basic.go
index 17685e9a3..b2a2c658b 100644
--- a/lib/http/auth/basic.go
+++ b/lib/http/auth/basic.go
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@ func HtPasswdAuth(path, realm string) httplib.Middleware {
 }
 
 // SingleAuth instantiates middleware that authenticates for a single user
-func SingleAuth(user, pass, realm string) httplib.Middleware {
+func SingleAuth(user, pass, realm, salt string) httplib.Middleware {
 	fs.Infof(nil, "Using --user %s --pass XXXX as authenticated user", user)
-	pass = string(auth.MD5Crypt([]byte(pass), []byte("dlPL2MqE"), []byte("$1$")))
+	pass = string(auth.MD5Crypt([]byte(pass), []byte(salt), []byte("$1$")))
 	secretProvider := func(u, r string) string {
 		if user == u {
 			return pass