diff --git a/storage/grpc_client.go b/storage/grpc_client.go
index 09fddbdf1f78..df1ada07b55b 100644
--- a/storage/grpc_client.go
+++ b/storage/grpc_client.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	storagepb "cloud.google.com/go/storage/internal/apiv2/stubs"
 	"google.golang.org/api/iterator"
 	"google.golang.org/api/option"
+	"google.golang.org/api/option/internaloption"
 	iampb "google.golang.org/genproto/googleapis/iam/v1"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
@@ -88,6 +89,9 @@ func defaultGRPCOptions() []option.ClientOption {
 			option.WithGRPCDialOption(grpc.WithInsecure()),
 			option.WithoutAuthentication(),
 		)
+	} else {
+		// Only enable DirectPath when the emulator is not being targeted.
+		defaults = append(defaults, internaloption.EnableDirectPath(true))
 	}
 
 	return defaults