diff --git a/src/network/kernel/qauthenticator.cpp b/src/network/kernel/qauthenticator.cpp
index 4c458715e62..e2ad91f1719 100644
--- a/src/network/kernel/qauthenticator.cpp
+++ b/src/network/kernel/qauthenticator.cpp
@@ -554,8 +554,7 @@ QByteArray QAuthenticatorPrivate::calculateResponse(QByteArrayView requestMethod
         break;
     case QAuthenticatorPrivate::Basic:
         methodString = "Basic";
-        response = (user + ':'_L1 + password).toLatin1();
-        response = response.toBase64();
+        response = (user + ':'_L1 + password).toLatin1().toBase64();
         phase = Done;
         break;
     case QAuthenticatorPrivate::DigestMd5: