diff --git a/kasa/discover.py b/kasa/discover.py
index 9bdae46b..36daeaa9 100755
--- a/kasa/discover.py
+++ b/kasa/discover.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 """Discovery module for TP-Link Smart Home devices."""
 import asyncio
-import base64
 import binascii
 import ipaddress
 import logging
@@ -35,9 +34,6 @@ _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 OnDiscoveredCallable = Callable[[SmartDevice], Awaitable[None]]
 DeviceDict = Dict[str, SmartDevice]
 
-UNAVAILABLE_ALIAS = "Authentication required"
-UNAVAILABLE_NICKNAME = base64.b64encode(UNAVAILABLE_ALIAS.encode()).decode()
-
 
 class _DiscoverProtocol(asyncio.DatagramProtocol):
     """Implementation of the discovery protocol handler.
@@ -463,9 +459,7 @@ class Discover:
         device = device_class(config.host, protocol=protocol)
 
         di = discovery_result.get_dict()
-        di["model"] = discovery_result.device_model
-        di["alias"] = UNAVAILABLE_ALIAS
-        di["nickname"] = UNAVAILABLE_NICKNAME
+        di["model"], _, _ = discovery_result.device_model.partition("(")
         device.update_from_discover_info(di)
         return device
 
diff --git a/kasa/smartdevice.py b/kasa/smartdevice.py
index 144c2894..4249807f 100755
--- a/kasa/smartdevice.py
+++ b/kasa/smartdevice.py
@@ -442,11 +442,10 @@ class SmartDevice:
         return self.is_strip
 
     @property  # type: ignore
-    @requires_update
-    def alias(self) -> str:
+    def alias(self) -> Optional[str]:
         """Return device name (alias)."""
         sys_info = self._sys_info
-        return str(sys_info["alias"])
+        return sys_info.get("alias") if sys_info else None
 
     async def set_alias(self, alias: str) -> None:
         """Set the device name (alias)."""
diff --git a/kasa/tapo/tapodevice.py b/kasa/tapo/tapodevice.py
index 86f93912..8edec611 100644
--- a/kasa/tapo/tapodevice.py
+++ b/kasa/tapo/tapodevice.py
@@ -102,9 +102,12 @@ class TapoDevice(SmartDevice):
         return str(self._info.get("model"))
 
     @property
-    def alias(self) -> str:
+    def alias(self) -> Optional[str]:
         """Returns the device alias or nickname."""
-        return base64.b64decode(str(self._info.get("nickname"))).decode()
+        if self._info and (nickname := self._info.get("nickname")):
+            return base64.b64decode(nickname).decode()
+        else:
+            return None
 
     @property
     def time(self) -> datetime:
diff --git a/kasa/tests/test_discovery.py b/kasa/tests/test_discovery.py
index 51aedfb7..f0cce517 100644
--- a/kasa/tests/test_discovery.py
+++ b/kasa/tests/test_discovery.py
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ async def test_discover_single(discovery_mock, custom_port, mocker):
     assert x._discovery_info is not None
     assert x.port == custom_port or x.port == discovery_mock.default_port
     assert update_mock.call_count == 0
+    if discovery_mock.default_port == 80:
+        assert x.alias is None
 
     ct = ConnectionType.from_values(
         discovery_mock.device_type,
diff --git a/kasa/tests/test_strip.py b/kasa/tests/test_strip.py
index eb0c848c..451b7e34 100644
--- a/kasa/tests/test_strip.py
+++ b/kasa/tests/test_strip.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ async def test_children_on_since(dev):
 @strip
 async def test_get_plug_by_name(dev: SmartStrip):
     name = dev.children[0].alias
-    assert dev.get_plug_by_name(name) == dev.children[0]
+    assert dev.get_plug_by_name(name) == dev.children[0]  # type: ignore[arg-type]
 
     with pytest.raises(SmartDeviceException):
         dev.get_plug_by_name("NONEXISTING NAME")