diff --git a/dandi/move.py b/dandi/move.py
index 9996212bb..e53991e43 100644
--- a/dandi/move.py
+++ b/dandi/move.py
@@ -812,6 +812,7 @@ def move(
                 raise TypeError("`dandiset` must be a Path when work_on='both'")
             local_ds, subpath = find_dandiset_and_subpath(dandiset)
             client = DandiAPIClient.for_dandi_instance(dandi_instance)
+            client.dandi_authenticate()
             stack.enter_context(client)
             remote_ds = client.get_dandiset(
                 local_ds.identifier, version_id="draft", lazy=False
@@ -833,6 +834,7 @@ def move(
                 if not isinstance(url, DandisetURL):
                     raise ValueError("URL does not point to a Dandiset")
                 client = url.get_client()
+                client.dandi_authenticate()
                 stack.enter_context(client)
                 rds = url.get_dandiset(client, lazy=False)
                 assert rds is not None
@@ -841,6 +843,7 @@ def move(
             else:
                 local_ds, subpath = find_dandiset_and_subpath(dandiset)
                 client = DandiAPIClient.for_dandi_instance(dandi_instance)
+                client.dandi_authenticate()
                 stack.enter_context(client)
                 remote_ds = client.get_dandiset(
                     local_ds.identifier, version_id="draft", lazy=False
@@ -866,8 +869,6 @@ def move(
         if not plan:
             lgr.info("Nothing to move")
             return
-        if not dry_run and client is not None:
-            client.dandi_authenticate()
         if devel_debug:
             for gen in mover.process_moves_debug(plan, dry_run):
                 for r in gen: