diff --git a/notebook/base/handlers.py b/notebook/base/handlers.py
index 39c705627..686dcb93b 100644
--- a/notebook/base/handlers.py
+++ b/notebook/base/handlers.py
@@ -387,7 +387,6 @@ class APIHandler(IPythonHandler):
         self.set_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
         return super(APIHandler, self).finish(*args, **kwargs)
 
-    @web.authenticated
     def options(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.set_header('Access-Control-Allow-Headers', 'accept, content-type')
         self.set_header('Access-Control-Allow-Methods',