diff --git a/internal/transport/http2_client.go b/internal/transport/http2_client.go
index 6a4776bb1531..a5e4f66af9d3 100644
--- a/internal/transport/http2_client.go
+++ b/internal/transport/http2_client.go
@@ -557,8 +557,10 @@ func (t *http2Client) getCallAuthData(ctx context.Context, audience string, call
 	// Note: if these credentials are provided both via dial options and call
 	// options, then both sets of credentials will be applied.
 	if callCreds := callHdr.Creds; callCreds != nil {
-		if !t.isSecure && callCreds.RequireTransportSecurity() {
-			return nil, status.Error(codes.Unauthenticated, "transport: cannot send secure credentials on an insecure connection")
+		if callCreds.RequireTransportSecurity() {
+			if err := credentials.CheckSecurityLevel(ctx, credentials.PrivacyAndIntegrity); err != nil || !t.isSecure {
+				return nil, status.Error(codes.Unauthenticated, "transport: cannot send secure credentials on an insecure connection")
+			}
 		}
 		data, err := callCreds.GetRequestMetadata(ctx, audience)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/test/insecure_creds_test.go b/test/insecure_creds_test.go
index 81d5a5ba5d0b..bc4a607c7cb8 100644
--- a/test/insecure_creds_test.go
+++ b/test/insecure_creds_test.go
@@ -35,6 +35,17 @@ import (
 
 const defaultTestTimeout = 5 * time.Second
 
+// testLegacyPerRPCCredentials is a PerRPCCredentials that has yet incorporated security level.
+type testLegacyPerRPCCredentials struct{}
+
+func (cr testLegacyPerRPCCredentials) GetRequestMetadata(ctx context.Context, uri ...string) (map[string]string, error) {
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+func (cr testLegacyPerRPCCredentials) RequireTransportSecurity() bool {
+	return true
+}
+
 // TestInsecureCreds tests the use of insecure creds on the server and client
 // side, and verifies that expect security level and auth info are returned.
 // Also verifies that this credential can interop with existing `WithInsecure`
@@ -122,3 +133,65 @@ func (s) TestInsecureCreds(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func (s) TestInsecureCredsWithPerRPCCredentials(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		desc                      string
+		perRPCCredsViaDialOptions bool
+		perRPCCredsViaCallOptions bool
+	}{
+		{
+			desc:                      "send PerRPCCredentials via DialOptions",
+			perRPCCredsViaDialOptions: false,
+			perRPCCredsViaCallOptions: true,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ss := &stubServer{
+				emptyCall: func(ctx context.Context, in *testpb.Empty) (*testpb.Empty, error) {
+					return &testpb.Empty{}, nil
+				},
+			}
+
+			sOpts := []grpc.ServerOption{}
+			sOpts = append(sOpts, grpc.Creds(insecure.NewCredentials()))
+			s := grpc.NewServer(sOpts...)
+			defer s.Stop()
+
+			testpb.RegisterTestServiceServer(s, ss)
+
+			lis, err := net.Listen("tcp", "localhost:0")
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("net.Listen(tcp, localhost:0) failed: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			go s.Serve(lis)
+
+			addr := lis.Addr().String()
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), defaultTestTimeout)
+			defer cancel()
+			cOpts := []grpc.DialOption{grpc.WithBlock()}
+			cOpts = append(cOpts, grpc.WithTransportCredentials(insecure.NewCredentials()))
+
+			if test.perRPCCredsViaDialOptions {
+				cOpts = append(cOpts, grpc.WithPerRPCCredentials(testLegacyPerRPCCredentials{}))
+				cc, err := grpc.DialContext(ctx, addr, cOpts...)
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("grpc.Dial(%q) failed: %v", addr, err)
+				}
+				defer cc.Close()
+			}
+
+			if test.perRPCCredsViaCallOptions {
+				cc, err := grpc.DialContext(ctx, addr, cOpts...)
+				defer cc.Close()
+
+				c := testpb.NewTestServiceClient(cc)
+				if _, err = c.EmptyCall(ctx, &testpb.Empty{}, grpc.PerRPCCredentials(testLegacyPerRPCCredentials{})); err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("EmptyCall(_, _) = _, %v; want _, <nil>", err)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}