diff --git a/needles/gnome/desktop_update_auth_required.json b/needles/gnome/desktop_update_auth_required.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..44c49b10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/desktop_update_auth_required.json
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 298,
+      "ypos": 265,
+      "width": 46,
+      "height": 32,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "DESKTOP-gnome",
+    "desktop_update_auth_required"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/desktop_update_auth_required.png b/needles/gnome/desktop_update_auth_required.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e777dec0
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/desktop_update_auth_required.png differ
diff --git a/tests/desktop_update_graphical.pm b/tests/desktop_update_graphical.pm
index b49cfefd..dda6e352 100644
--- a/tests/desktop_update_graphical.pm
+++ b/tests/desktop_update_graphical.pm
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ sub run {
         assert_and_click 'desktop_expand_systray';
     }
     else {
+        # work around https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-software/issues/582
+        # if it happens
+        if (check_screen "desktop_update_auth_required", 10) {
+            record_soft_failure "spurious 'auth required' - https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-software/issues/582";
+            # bit sloppy but correct for both...
+            type_safely "weakpassword\n";
+        }
         # this launches GNOME Software on GNOME, dunno for any other
         # desktop yet
         sleep 3;