diff --git a/src/client.ts b/src/client.ts
index c7df965cd..1de4c1b99 100644
--- a/src/client.ts
+++ b/src/client.ts
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ export class OpenAI {
       throw new Errors.OpenAIError('The `apiKey` and `workloadIdentity` options are mutually exclusive');
     }
 
-    if (!providerRuntime && !apiKey && !adminAPIKey && !workloadIdentity) {
+    if (!providerRuntime && apiKey == null && !adminAPIKey && !workloadIdentity) {
       throw new Errors.OpenAIError(
         'Missing credentials. Please pass an `apiKey`, `workloadIdentity`, `adminAPIKey`, or set the `OPENAI_API_KEY` or `OPENAI_ADMIN_KEY` environment variable.',
       );
diff --git a/tests/index.test.ts b/tests/index.test.ts
index e19e33b98..cf4659a77 100644
--- a/tests/index.test.ts
+++ b/tests/index.test.ts
@@ -1089,5 +1089,13 @@ describe('retries', () => {
         ),
       );
     });
+
+    test('apiKey empty string does not throw', () => {
+      delete process.env['OPENAI_API_KEY'];
+      delete process.env['OPENAI_ADMIN_KEY'];
+
+      const client = new OpenAI({ apiKey: '' });
+      expect(client.apiKey).toBe('');
+    });
   });
 });