diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index 858d5751bf..ac0766b98c 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -7615,8 +7615,16 @@ Invoking guix git authenticate
 and non-zero on failure.  @var{commit} above denotes the first commit
 where authentication takes place, and @var{signer} is the OpenPGP
 fingerprint of public key used to sign @var{commit}.  Together, they
-form a ``channel introduction'' (@pxref{channel-authentication, channel
-introduction}).  The options below allow you to fine-tune the process.
+form a @dfn{channel introduction} (@pxref{channel-authentication, channel
+introduction}).  On your first successful run, the introduction is
+recorded in the @file{.git/config} file of your checkout, allowing you
+to omit them from subsequent invocations:
+
+@example
+guix git authenticate [@var{options}@dots{}]
+@end example
+
+The options below allow you to fine-tune the process.
 
 @table @code
 @item --repository=@var{directory}
diff --git a/guix/scripts/git/authenticate.scm b/guix/scripts/git/authenticate.scm
index 6ff5cee682..d3cc4065df 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/git/authenticate.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/git/authenticate.scm
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ (define-module (guix scripts git authenticate)
   #:use-module (srfi srfi-1)
   #:use-module (srfi srfi-26)
   #:use-module (srfi srfi-37)
+  #:use-module (srfi srfi-71)
   #:use-module (ice-9 format)
   #:use-module (ice-9 match)
   #:export (guix-git-authenticate))
@@ -73,8 +74,60 @@ (define %options
                   (alist-cons 'show-stats? #t result)))))
 
 (define %default-options
-  '((directory . ".")
-    (keyring-reference . "keyring")))
+  '((directory . ".")))
+
+(define (config-value config key)
+  "Return the config value associated with KEY, or #f if no such config was
+found."
+  (catch 'git-error
+    (lambda ()
+      (config-entry-value (config-get-entry config key)))
+    (const #f)))
+
+(define (configured-introduction repository)
+  "Return two values: the commit and signer fingerprint (strings) as
+configured in REPOSITORY.  Error out if one or both were missing."
+  (let* ((config (repository-config repository))
+         (commit (config-value config "guix.authentication.introduction-commit"))
+         (signer (config-value config "guix.authentication.introduction-signer")))
+    (unless (and commit signer)
+      (leave (G_ "unknown introductory commit and signer~%")))
+    (values commit signer)))
+
+(define (configured-keyring-reference repository)
+  "Return the keyring reference configured in REPOSITORY or #f if missing."
+  (let ((config (repository-config repository)))
+    (config-value config "guix.authentication.keyring")))
+
+(define (configured? repository)
+  "Return true if REPOSITORY already container introduction info in its
+'config' file."
+  (let ((config (repository-config repository)))
+    (and (config-value config "guix.authentication.introduction-commit")
+         (config-value config "guix.authentication.introduction-signer"))))
+
+(define* (record-configuration repository
+                               #:key commit signer keyring-reference)
+  "Record COMMIT, SIGNER, and KEYRING-REFERENCE in the 'config' file of
+REPOSITORY."
+  (define directory
+    (repository-directory repository))
+
+  (define config-file
+    (in-vicinity directory "config"))
+
+  (call-with-port (open-file config-file "a")
+    (lambda (port)
+      (format port "
+# Added by 'guix git authenticate'.
+[guix \"authentication\"]
+        introduction-commit = ~a
+        introduction-signer = ~a
+        keyring = ~a~%"
+              commit signer keyring-reference)))
+
+  (info (G_ "introduction and keyring configuration recorded in '~a'~%")
+        config-file))
 
 (define (show-stats stats)
   "Display STATS, an alist containing commit signing stats as returned by
@@ -156,35 +209,48 @@ (define (guix-git-authenticate . args)
         (progress-reporter/bar (length commits))
         progress-reporter/silent))
 
+  (define (missing-arguments)
+    (leave (G_ "wrong number of arguments; \
+expected COMMIT and SIGNER~%")))
+
   (with-error-handling
     (with-git-error-handling
-     (match (command-line-arguments options)
-       ((commit signer)
-        (let* ((directory   (assoc-ref options 'directory))
-               (show-stats? (assoc-ref options 'show-stats?))
-               (keyring     (assoc-ref options 'keyring-reference))
-               (repository  (repository-open directory))
-               (end         (match (assoc-ref options 'end-commit)
-                              (#f  (reference-target
-                                    (repository-head repository)))
-                              (oid oid)))
-               (history     (match (assoc-ref options 'historical-authorizations)
-                              (#f '())
-                              (file (call-with-input-file file
-                                      read-authorizations))))
-               (cache-key   (or (assoc-ref options 'cache-key)
-                                (repository-cache-key repository))))
-          (define stats
-            (authenticate-repository repository (string->oid commit)
-                                     (openpgp-fingerprint* signer)
-                                     #:end end
-                                     #:keyring-reference keyring
-                                     #:historical-authorizations history
-                                     #:cache-key cache-key
-                                     #:make-reporter make-reporter))
+     (let* ((directory   (assoc-ref options 'directory))
+            (show-stats? (assoc-ref options 'show-stats?))
+            (repository  (repository-open directory))
+            (commit signer (match (command-line-arguments options)
+                             ((commit signer)
+                              (values commit signer))
+                             (()
+                              (configured-introduction repository))
+                             (_
+                              (missing-arguments))))
+            (keyring     (or (assoc-ref options 'keyring-reference)
+                             (configured-keyring-reference repository)
+                             "keyring"))
+            (end         (match (assoc-ref options 'end-commit)
+                           (#f  (reference-target
+                                 (repository-head repository)))
+                           (oid oid)))
+            (history     (match (assoc-ref options 'historical-authorizations)
+                           (#f '())
+                           (file (call-with-input-file file
+                                   read-authorizations))))
+            (cache-key   (or (assoc-ref options 'cache-key)
+                             (repository-cache-key repository))))
+       (define stats
+         (authenticate-repository repository (string->oid commit)
+                                  (openpgp-fingerprint* signer)
+                                  #:end end
+                                  #:keyring-reference keyring
+                                  #:historical-authorizations history
+                                  #:cache-key cache-key
+                                  #:make-reporter make-reporter))
 
-          (when (and show-stats? (not (null? stats)))
-            (show-stats stats))))
-       (_
-        (leave (G_ "wrong number of arguments; \
-expected COMMIT and SIGNER~%")))))))
+       (unless (configured? repository)
+         (record-configuration repository
+                               #:commit commit #:signer signer
+                               #:keyring-reference keyring))
+
+       (when (and show-stats? (not (null? stats)))
+         (show-stats stats))))))
diff --git a/tests/guix-git-authenticate.sh b/tests/guix-git-authenticate.sh
index ec89f941e6..db60816d45 100644
--- a/tests/guix-git-authenticate.sh
+++ b/tests/guix-git-authenticate.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # GNU Guix --- Functional package management for GNU
-# Copyright © 2020, 2022 Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org>
+# Copyright © 2020, 2022, 2024 Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org>
 #
 # This file is part of GNU Guix.
 #
@@ -40,10 +40,11 @@ guix git authenticate "$intro_commit" "$intro_signer"	\
      --end=9549f0283a78fe36f2d4ff2a04ef8ad6b0c02604 && false
 
 # The v1.2.0 commit is a descendant of $intro_commit and it satisfies the
-# authorization invariant.
+# authorization invariant.  No need to repeat $intro_commit and $intro_signer
+# because it should have been recorded in '.git/config'.
 v1_2_0_commit="a099685659b4bfa6b3218f84953cbb7ff9e88063"
-guix git authenticate "$intro_commit" "$intro_signer"	\
-     --cache-key="$cache_key" --stats			\
+guix git authenticate				\
+     --cache-key="$cache_key" --stats		\
      --end="$v1_2_0_commit"
 
 rm "$XDG_CACHE_HOME/guix/authentication/$cache_key"
