diff --git a/src/http.cpp b/src/http.cpp
index 7e006dc..9648e0a 100644
--- a/src/http.cpp
+++ b/src/http.cpp
@@ -76,11 +76,11 @@ API::http::http(const API &api, const string &instance,
         {
             string hostport = env_proxy.substr(pos + 1);
             string userpw = env_proxy.substr(0, pos);
-            parent.set_proxy(hostport, userpw);
+            set_proxy(hostport, userpw);
         }
         else
         {
-            parent.set_proxy(env_proxy);
+            set_proxy(env_proxy);
         }
     }
     catch (const std::exception &)
diff --git a/src/mastodon-cpp.hpp b/src/mastodon-cpp.hpp
index 58c7b8a..6e06235 100644
--- a/src/mastodon-cpp.hpp
+++ b/src/mastodon-cpp.hpp
@@ -146,11 +146,11 @@ namespace Mastodon
              *  @brief  Set proxy. Do not call this directly.
              *
              *  @param  hostport host[:port]
-             *  @param  userpw   user[:password]
+             *  @param  userpw   user[:password] (optional)
              *
              *  @since  0.110.0
              */
-            void set_proxy(const string &hostport, const string &userpw);
+            void set_proxy(const string &hostport, const string &userpw = "");
 
         private:
             const API &parent;