diff --git a/src/common/request.h b/src/common/request.h
--- a/src/common/request.h
+++ b/src/common/request.h
@@ -56,6 +56,16 @@ int distren_request_version(struct distr
 int distren_request_parse_version(struct distren_request *req, void *data, struct distren_request_version *version);
 
 /**
+ * Initialize a PASS request so as to identify to a server.
+ *
+ * \param req Where to store the newly allocated req.
+ * \param data Where to store the newly allocated data.
+ * \param user The username to send to the server.
+ * \param pass The password to send to the server.
+ */
+int distren_request_pass(struct distren_request **req, void **data, const char *username, const char *pass);
+
+/**
  * Initialize a PING or PONG request.
  *
  * @param data a place to allocate storage for the data associated with this request