diff --git a/lib/utils/config/definitions.js b/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
index e8cdbec3e1d52..3b6d61583e252 100644
--- a/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
+++ b/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ define('_auth', {
     is safer to use a registry-provided authentication bearer token stored in
     the ~/.npmrc file by running \`npm login\`.
   `,
+  flatten,
 })
 
 define('access', {