diff --git a/lib/backup/s3remote/s3.go b/lib/backup/s3remote/s3.go
index f6dafe583..a5aac8532 100644
--- a/lib/backup/s3remote/s3.go
+++ b/lib/backup/s3remote/s3.go
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ func (fs *FS) Init() error {
 	}
 	configOpts := []func(*config.LoadOptions) error{
 		config.WithSharedConfigProfile(fs.ProfileName),
+		config.WithDefaultRegion("us-east-1"),
 	}
 
 	if len(fs.CredsFilePath) > 0 {