diff --git a/src/openai/_client.py b/src/openai/_client.py
index 5f980c8cb6..2a2b8a4b6f 100644
--- a/src/openai/_client.py
+++ b/src/openai/_client.py
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ def __init__(
 
         self.workload_identity = workload_identity if provider_runtime is None else None
 
+        _api_key_provided = api_key is not None
         if provider_runtime is not None:
             self.api_key = ""
             self._api_key_provider = None
@@ -224,6 +225,7 @@ def __init__(
             provider_runtime is None
             and _enforce_credentials
             and not self.api_key
+            and not _api_key_provided
             and self._api_key_provider is None
             and workload_identity is None
             and self.admin_api_key is None
@@ -803,6 +805,7 @@ def __init__(
 
         self.workload_identity = workload_identity if provider_runtime is None else None
 
+        _api_key_provided = api_key is not None
         if provider_runtime is not None:
             self.api_key = ""
             self._api_key_provider = None
@@ -830,6 +833,7 @@ def __init__(
             provider_runtime is None
             and _enforce_credentials
             and not self.api_key
+            and not _api_key_provided
             and self._api_key_provider is None
             and workload_identity is None
             and self.admin_api_key is None