diff --git a/authentik/api/authentication.py b/authentik/api/authentication.py
index 9566c3d50..3e7faaf85 100644
--- a/authentik/api/authentication.py
+++ b/authentik/api/authentication.py
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 """API Authentication"""
-from base64 import b64decode
-from binascii import Error
 from typing import Any, Optional
 
 from django.conf import settings
@@ -16,38 +14,34 @@ from authentik.outposts.models import Outpost
 LOGGER = get_logger()
 
 
-# pylint: disable=too-many-return-statements
-def bearer_auth(raw_header: bytes) -> Optional[User]:
-    """raw_header in the Format of `Bearer dGVzdDp0ZXN0`"""
-    auth_credentials = raw_header.decode()
+def validate_auth(header: bytes) -> str:
+    """Validate that the header is in a correct format,
+    returns type and credentials"""
+    auth_credentials = header.decode().strip()
     if auth_credentials == "" or " " not in auth_credentials:
         return None
     auth_type, _, auth_credentials = auth_credentials.partition(" ")
-    if auth_type.lower() not in ["basic", "bearer"]:
+    if auth_type.lower() != "bearer":
         LOGGER.debug("Unsupported authentication type, denying", type=auth_type.lower())
         raise AuthenticationFailed("Unsupported authentication type")
-    password = auth_credentials
-    if auth_type.lower() == "basic":
-        try:
-            auth_credentials = b64decode(auth_credentials.encode()).decode()
-        except (UnicodeDecodeError, Error):
-            raise AuthenticationFailed("Malformed header")
-        # Accept credentials with username and without
-        if ":" in auth_credentials:
-            _, _, password = auth_credentials.partition(":")
-        else:
-            password = auth_credentials
-    if password == "":  # nosec
+    if auth_credentials == "":  # nosec
         raise AuthenticationFailed("Malformed header")
-    tokens = Token.filter_not_expired(key=password, intent=TokenIntents.INTENT_API)
-    if not tokens.exists():
-        user = token_secret_key(password)
-        if not user:
-            raise AuthenticationFailed("Token invalid/expired")
-        return user
+    return auth_credentials
+
+
+def bearer_auth(raw_header: bytes) -> Optional[User]:
+    """raw_header in the Format of `Bearer ....`"""
+    auth_credentials = validate_auth(raw_header)
+    # first, check traditional tokens
+    token = Token.filter_not_expired(key=auth_credentials, intent=TokenIntents.INTENT_API).first()
     if hasattr(LOCAL, "authentik"):
         LOCAL.authentik[KEY_AUTH_VIA] = "api_token"
-    return tokens.first().user
+    if token:
+        return token.user
+    user = token_secret_key(auth_credentials)
+    if user:
+        return user
+    raise AuthenticationFailed("Token invalid/expired")
 
 
 def token_secret_key(value: str) -> Optional[User]:
diff --git a/authentik/api/tests/test_auth.py b/authentik/api/tests/test_auth.py
index b965487c9..ef49d3dee 100644
--- a/authentik/api/tests/test_auth.py
+++ b/authentik/api/tests/test_auth.py
@@ -14,12 +14,6 @@ from authentik.outposts.managed import OutpostManager
 class TestAPIAuth(TestCase):
     """Test API Authentication"""
 
-    def test_valid_basic(self):
-        """Test valid token"""
-        token = Token.objects.create(intent=TokenIntents.INTENT_API, user=get_anonymous_user())
-        auth = b64encode(f":{token.key}".encode()).decode()
-        self.assertEqual(bearer_auth(f"Basic {auth}".encode()), token.user)
-
     def test_valid_bearer(self):
         """Test valid token"""
         token = Token.objects.create(intent=TokenIntents.INTENT_API, user=get_anonymous_user())
@@ -30,16 +24,6 @@ class TestAPIAuth(TestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(AuthenticationFailed):
             bearer_auth("foo bar".encode())
 
-    def test_invalid_decode(self):
-        """Test invalid bas64"""
-        with self.assertRaises(AuthenticationFailed):
-            bearer_auth("Basic bar".encode())
-
-    def test_invalid_empty_password(self):
-        """Test invalid with empty password"""
-        with self.assertRaises(AuthenticationFailed):
-            bearer_auth("Basic :".encode())
-
     def test_invalid_no_token(self):
         """Test invalid with no token"""
         with self.assertRaises(AuthenticationFailed):