diff --git a/nwbwidgets/panel.py b/nwbwidgets/panel.py
index 10b8d365..6ccd0195 100644
--- a/nwbwidgets/panel.py
+++ b/nwbwidgets/panel.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import concurrent.futures
+import os
 import warnings
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -292,6 +293,9 @@ def process_dandiset(self, dandiset):
 
     def get_all_dandisets_metadata(self):
         with DandiAPIClient() as client:
+            api_key = os.environ.get("DANDI_API_KEY", None)
+            if api_key:
+                client.dandi_authenticate()
             all_metadata = []
             dandisets = list(client.get_dandisets())
             total_dandisets = len(dandisets)