diff --git a/internal/pkg/cli/env_init.go b/internal/pkg/cli/env_init.go
index f317c41cafc..4e7f0b4a4dc 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/cli/env_init.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/cli/env_init.go
@@ -429,8 +429,15 @@ func (o *initEnvOpts) askEnvSession() error {
 
 	selCreds, err := o.selCreds()
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		errRetrieveCreds := err
+		sess, err := o.sessProvider.Default()
+		if err != nil {
+			return errors.Join(errRetrieveCreds, fmt.Errorf("falling back on default credentials: %w", err))
+		}
+		o.sess = sess
+		return nil
 	}
+
 	sess, err := selCreds.Creds(fmt.Sprintf(fmtEnvInitCredsPrompt, color.HighlightUserInput(o.name)), envInitCredsHelpPrompt)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("select creds: %w", err)
diff --git a/internal/pkg/cli/env_init_test.go b/internal/pkg/cli/env_init_test.go
index 34b4812d19e..5aefa86de6f 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/cli/env_init_test.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/cli/env_init_test.go
@@ -356,7 +356,8 @@ func TestInitEnvOpts_Ask(t *testing.T) {
 		inAdjustVPCVars      adjustVPCVars
 		inInternalALBSubnets []string
 
-		setupMocks func(mocks initEnvMocks)
+		getMockCredsSelector func() (credsSelector, error)
+		setupMocks           func(mocks initEnvMocks)
 
 		wantedError error
 	}{
@@ -416,6 +417,21 @@ func TestInitEnvOpts_Ask(t *testing.T) {
 				m.selCreds.EXPECT().Creds("Which credentials would you like to use to create test?", gomock.Any()).Return(mockSession, nil)
 			},
 		},
+		"should fallback on default session if credentials cant be found": {
+			inAppName: mockApp,
+			inEnv:     mockEnv,
+			inDefault: true,
+			getMockCredsSelector: func() (credsSelector, error) {
+				return nil, mockErr
+			},
+			setupMocks: func(m initEnvMocks) {
+				m.sessProvider.EXPECT().Default().Return(&session.Session{
+					Config: &aws.Config{
+						Region: aws.String("us-west-2"),
+					},
+				}, nil)
+			},
+		},
 		"should prompt for region if user configuration does not have one": {
 			inAppName: mockApp,
 			inEnv:     mockEnv,
@@ -923,6 +939,9 @@ func TestInitEnvOpts_Ask(t *testing.T) {
 				sessProvider: mocks.sessProvider,
 				selVPC:       mocks.selVPC,
 				selCreds: func() (credsSelector, error) {
+					if tc.getMockCredsSelector != nil {
+						return tc.getMockCredsSelector()
+					}
 					return mocks.selCreds, nil
 				},
 				ec2Client: mocks.ec2Client,