diff --git a/example/app.py b/example/app.py
index 11f74a8..a649e3b 100644
--- a/example/app.py
+++ b/example/app.py
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ def create_app(auth_config):
     def http():
         return render_template('index.html', content='HTTP Authentication')
 
+    @app.route('/http_custom_realm')
+    @http_auth_required('My Realm')
+    def http_custom_realm():
+        return render_template('index.html', content='HTTP Authentication')
+
     @app.route('/token')
     @auth_token_required
     def token():
diff --git a/flask_security/core.py b/flask_security/core.py
index dd347d0..b12fb1d 100644
--- a/flask_security/core.py
+++ b/flask_security/core.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ _default_config = {
     'CONFIRM_SALT': 'confirm-salt',
     'RESET_SALT': 'reset-salt',
     'AUTH_SALT': 'auth-salt',
-    'DEFAULT_HTTP_AUTH_HEADER': 'Basic realm="Login Required"'
+    'DEFAULT_HTTP_AUTH_REALM': 'Login Required'
 }
 
 
diff --git a/flask_security/decorators.py b/flask_security/decorators.py
index e909b49..c5a100f 100644
--- a/flask_security/decorators.py
+++ b/flask_security/decorators.py
@@ -78,23 +78,26 @@ def _check_http_auth():
     return app.security.pwd_context.verify(auth.password, user.password)
 
 
-def http_auth_required(auth_header=None):
+def http_auth_required(realm):
     """Decorator that protects endpoints using Basic HTTP authentication."""
-    def wrapper(fn):
 
+    def decorator(fn):
         @wraps(fn)
-        def decorated(*args, **kwargs):
+        def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
             if _check_http_auth():
                 return fn(*args, **kwargs)
 
-            header = auth_header or _security.default_http_auth_header
-            headers = {'WWW-Authenticate': header}
+            r = _security.default_http_auth_realm if callable(realm) else realm
+            h = {'WWW-Authenticate': 'Basic realm="%s"' % r}
 
-            return _get_unauthorized_response(headers=headers)
+            return _get_unauthorized_response(headers=h)
 
-        return decorated
+        return wrapper
 
-    return wrapper
+    if callable(realm):
+        return decorator(realm)
+
+    return decorator
 
 
 def auth_token_required(fn):
diff --git a/tests/functional_tests.py b/tests/functional_tests.py
index 925b5ba..1f74580 100644
--- a/tests/functional_tests.py
+++ b/tests/functional_tests.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import with_statement
 
+import base64
 import time
 
 try:
@@ -130,8 +131,30 @@ class DefaultSecurityTests(SecurityTest):
         r = self._get('/token', headers={"X-Auth-Token": 'X'})
         self.assertEqual(401, r.status_code)
 
+    def test_http_auth(self):
+        r = self._get('/http', headers={
+            'Authorization': 'Basic ' + base64.b64encode("joe@lp.com:password")
+        })
+        self.assertIn('HTTP Authentication', r.data)
 
-class ConfiguredURLTests(SecurityTest):
+    def test_invalid_http_auth(self):
+        r = self._get('/http', headers={
+            'Authorization': 'Basic ' + base64.b64encode("joe@lp.com:bogus")
+        })
+        self.assertIn('<h1>Unauthorized</h1>', r.data)
+        self.assertIn('WWW-Authenticate', r.headers)
+        self.assertEquals('Basic realm="Login Required"', r.headers['WWW-Authenticate'])
+
+    def test_custom_http_auth_realm(self):
+        r = self._get('/http_custom_realm', headers={
+            'Authorization': 'Basic ' + base64.b64encode("joe@lp.com:bogus")
+        })
+        self.assertIn('<h1>Unauthorized</h1>', r.data)
+        self.assertIn('WWW-Authenticate', r.headers)
+        self.assertEquals('Basic realm="My Realm"', r.headers['WWW-Authenticate'])
+
+
+class ConfiguredSecurityTests(SecurityTest):
 
     AUTH_CONFIG = {
         'SECURITY_REGISTERABLE': True,
@@ -141,7 +164,8 @@ class ConfiguredURLTests(SecurityTest):
         'SECURITY_POST_LOGIN_VIEW': '/post_login',
         'SECURITY_POST_LOGOUT_VIEW': '/post_logout',
         'SECURITY_POST_REGISTER_VIEW': '/post_register',
-        'SECURITY_UNAUTHORIZED_VIEW': '/unauthorized'
+        'SECURITY_UNAUTHORIZED_VIEW': '/unauthorized',
+        'SECURITY_DEFAULT_HTTP_AUTH_REALM': 'Custom Realm'
     }
 
     def test_login_view(self):
@@ -171,6 +195,14 @@ class ConfiguredURLTests(SecurityTest):
         msg = 'You are not allowed to access the requested resouce'
         self.assertIn(msg, r.data)
 
+    def test_default_http_auth_realm(self):
+        r = self._get('/http', headers={
+            'Authorization': 'Basic ' + base64.b64encode("joe@lp.com:bogus")
+        })
+        self.assertIn('<h1>Unauthorized</h1>', r.data)
+        self.assertIn('WWW-Authenticate', r.headers)
+        self.assertEquals('Basic realm="Custom Realm"', r.headers['WWW-Authenticate'])
+
 
 class RegisterableTests(SecurityTest):
     AUTH_CONFIG = {