diff --git a/auth.py b/auth.py
index ab0b9110..b768d651 100644
--- a/auth.py
+++ b/auth.py
@@ -38,6 +38,17 @@ def createBasicAuthHeader(nickname: str,password: str) -> str:
     authStr=nickname.replace('\n','')+':'+password.replace('\n','')
     return 'Basic '+base64.b64encode(authStr.encode('utf-8')).decode('utf-8')
 
+def nicknameFromBasicAuth(authHeader: str) -> str:
+    """Returns the nickname from basic auth header
+    """
+    if ' ' not in authHeader:
+        return None
+    base64Str = authHeader.split(' ')[1].replace('\n','')
+    plain = base64.b64decode(base64Str).decode('utf-8')
+    if ':' not in plain:
+        return None
+    return plain.split(':')[0]
+
 def authorizeBasic(baseDir: str,authHeader: str) -> bool:
     """HTTP basic auth
     """
diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index 7dd92f0b..57688084 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from inbox import inboxPermittedMessage
 from inbox import inboxMessageHasParams
 from follow import getFollowingFeed
 from auth import authorize
+from auth import nicknameFromBasicAuth
 import os
 import sys
 
@@ -122,6 +123,20 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         if self._webfinger():
             self.server.GETbusy=False
             return
+        # get the inbox for a given person
+        if self.path.endswith('/inbox'):
+            if '/users/' in self.path:
+                if self.headers.get('Authorization'):
+                    nickname=self.path.split('/users/')[1].replace('/inbox','')
+                    if nickname==nicknameFromBasicAuth(self.headers['Authorization']):
+                        if authorize(self.server.baseDir,self.headers['Authorization']):
+                            # TODO
+                            print('inbox access not supported yet')
+                            self.send_response(401)
+                            self.end_headers()
+                            self.server.POSTbusy=False
+                            return
+        
         # get outbox feed for a person
         outboxFeed=personOutboxJson(self.server.baseDir,self.server.domain, \
                                     self.server.port,self.path, \
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index 90d00df4..b2e28779 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ from person import setBio
 from auth import createBasicAuthHeader
 from auth import authorizeBasic
 from auth import storeBasicCredentials
+from auth import nicknameFromBasicAuth
 
 testServerAliceRunning = False
 testServerBobRunning = False
@@ -316,6 +317,7 @@ def testAuthentication():
     assert storeBasicCredentials(baseDir,nickname,password)
 
     authHeader=createBasicAuthHeader(nickname,password)
+    assert nickname==nicknameFromBasicAuth(authHeader)
     assert authorizeBasic(baseDir,authHeader)
 
     authHeader=createBasicAuthHeader(nickname,password+'1')