diff --git a/lib/chef/knife/ec2_server_create.rb b/lib/chef/knife/ec2_server_create.rb
index 25c07b12..bc28e8a6 100644
--- a/lib/chef/knife/ec2_server_create.rb
+++ b/lib/chef/knife/ec2_server_create.rb
@@ -278,7 +278,6 @@ class Ec2ServerCreate < Chef::Knife::Bootstrap
       option :cpu_credits,
         long: "--cpu-credits CPU_CREDITS",
         description: "The credit option for CPU usage of the instance. Valid values are standard and unlimited. T3 instances launch as unlimited by default. T2 instances launch as standard by default.",
-        default: "standard",
         in: %w{standard unlimited}
 
       def plugin_create_instance!
@@ -984,10 +983,12 @@ def server_attributes
 
         attributes[:instance_initiated_shutdown_behavior] = config_value(:instance_initiated_shutdown_behavior)
 
-        attributes[:credit_specification] =
-          {
-            cpu_credits: config[:cpu_credits],
-          }
+        if config[:cpu_credits]
+          attributes[:credit_specification] =
+            {
+              cpu_credits: config[:cpu_credits],
+            }
+        end
         attributes
       end