diff --git a/crates/rustirc-core/src/auth.rs b/crates/rustirc-core/src/auth.rs
index c930a58..9e0ffba 100644
--- a/crates/rustirc-core/src/auth.rs
+++ b/crates/rustirc-core/src/auth.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 //! implementing PLAIN, EXTERNAL, and SCRAM-SHA-256 mechanisms as specified
 //! in Phase 2 requirements.
 
-#![allow(unused_assignments)] // Zeroize derive generates field assignments for security
-
 use anyhow::Result;
 use base64::{engine::general_purpose::STANDARD as BASE64, Engine as _};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
@@ -28,16 +26,18 @@ pub enum AuthState {
 /// SASL credentials with secure password storage
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Zeroize, ZeroizeOnDrop)]
 pub struct SaslCredentials {
+    #[allow(unused_assignments)] // Zeroize derive generates field assignments for security
     pub username: String,
-    #[zeroize(skip)]
+    #[allow(unused_assignments)] // Zeroize derive generates field assignments for security
     pub password: SecureString,
+    #[allow(unused_assignments)] // Zeroize derive generates field assignments for security
     pub authzid: Option<String>,
 }
 
 /// Secure string that automatically zeroes memory on drop
 #[derive(Clone, Zeroize, ZeroizeOnDrop)]
 pub struct SecureString {
-    #[zeroize(skip)]
+    #[allow(unused_assignments)] // Zeroize derive generates field assignments for security
     inner: Vec<u8>,
 }
 
@@ -332,4 +332,89 @@ mod tests {
         auth.handle_success();
         assert_eq!(auth.state(), &AuthState::Success);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_secure_string_zeroization() {
+        use std::mem::ManuallyDrop;
+        use zeroize::Zeroize;
+        
+        // Create a SecureString with sensitive data
+        let sensitive_data = "password123".to_string();
+        let mut secure_str = ManuallyDrop::new(SecureString::new(sensitive_data.clone()));
+        
+        // Verify the data is present before zeroization
+        assert_eq!(secure_str.as_str(), "password123");
+        
+        // Manually call zeroize (this is what ZeroizeOnDrop does in Drop)
+        secure_str.zeroize();
+        
+        // After zeroization, the inner bytes should be zeroed
+        assert!(
+            secure_str.inner.iter().all(|&b| b == 0),
+            "SecureString memory should be zeroed after calling zeroize()"
+        );
+        
+        // Clean up the ManuallyDrop wrapper
+        unsafe { ManuallyDrop::drop(&mut secure_str); }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_sasl_credentials_zeroization() {
+        use std::mem::ManuallyDrop;
+        use zeroize::Zeroize;
+        
+        // Create SaslCredentials with sensitive data
+        let username = "testuser".to_string();
+        let password = SecureString::new("secretpass".to_string());
+        let authzid = Some("admin".to_string());
+        
+        let mut creds = ManuallyDrop::new(SaslCredentials {
+            username: username.clone(),
+            password: password.clone(),
+            authzid: authzid.clone(),
+        });
+        
+        // Verify the data is present before zeroization
+        assert_eq!(creds.username, "testuser");
+        assert_eq!(creds.password.as_str(), "secretpass");
+        assert_eq!(creds.authzid.as_deref(), Some("admin"));
+        
+        // Manually call zeroize (this is what ZeroizeOnDrop does in Drop)
+        creds.zeroize();
+        
+        // After zeroization, all string fields should be zeroed
+        assert!(
+            creds.username.as_bytes().iter().all(|&b| b == 0),
+            "SaslCredentials username should be zeroed after calling zeroize()"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            creds.password.inner.iter().all(|&b| b == 0),
+            "SaslCredentials password should be zeroed after calling zeroize()"
+        );
+        if let Some(ref authzid_val) = creds.authzid {
+            assert!(
+                authzid_val.as_bytes().iter().all(|&b| b == 0),
+                "SaslCredentials authzid should be zeroed after calling zeroize()"
+            );
+        }
+        
+        // Clean up the ManuallyDrop wrapper
+        unsafe { ManuallyDrop::drop(&mut creds); }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_secure_string_zeroize_on_drop() {
+        // This test verifies that ZeroizeOnDrop is properly derived
+        // by ensuring the struct implements the trait
+        fn assert_zeroize_on_drop<T: zeroize::ZeroizeOnDrop>() {}
+        assert_zeroize_on_drop::<SecureString>();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_sasl_credentials_zeroize_on_drop() {
+        // This test verifies that ZeroizeOnDrop is properly derived
+        // by ensuring the struct implements the trait
+        fn assert_zeroize_on_drop<T: zeroize::ZeroizeOnDrop>() {}
+        assert_zeroize_on_drop::<SaslCredentials>();
+    }
 }