diff --git a/irc.go b/irc.go
index 343b814..8ea21b5 100644
--- a/irc.go
+++ b/irc.go
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func (c *Connection) DelayedSend(sock net.Conn, dur time.Duration, channel, msg
 }
 
 //NewConnection creates and connects an Connection
-func NewConnection(server, nick, user, pass string, chans []string) *Connection {
+func NewConnection(server, nick, user string, pass *string, chans []string) *Connection {
 	irc := &Connection{channels: chans, userList: map[string][]string{}}
 
 	sock, err := net.Dial("tcp", server)
@@ -111,7 +111,9 @@ func NewConnection(server, nick, user, pass string, chans []string) *Connection
 	irc.Sock.Write([]byte(fmt.Sprintf("USER %s * * :%s\n", user, user)))
 	irc.SendNick(nick)
 	irc.curNick = nick
-	irc.Sock.Write([]byte(fmt.Sprintf("PASS %s\n", pass)))
+	if pass != nil {
+		irc.Sock.Write([]byte(fmt.Sprintf("PASS %s\n", *pass)))
+	}
 	return irc
 }
 
diff --git a/irc_test.go b/irc_test.go
index 6064a51..96be70a 100644
--- a/irc_test.go
+++ b/irc_test.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestSimpleIrc(t *testing.T) {
-	con := NewConnection("thc420.xyz:6667", "irc-go", "irc-go", "", []string{"#freedom"})
+	con := NewConnection("thc420.xyz:6667", "irc-go", "irc-go", nil, []string{"#freedom"})
 
 	go con.Run()