diff --git a/bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-client-core/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/config/BigtableOptions.java b/bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-client-core/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/config/BigtableOptions.java
index 130388e7ed..f14b144d10 100644
--- a/bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-client-core/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/config/BigtableOptions.java
+++ b/bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-client-core/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/config/BigtableOptions.java
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ private void applyEmulatorEnvironment() {
             " environment variable: " + emulatorHost);
       }
       setUsePlaintextNegotiation(true);
+      setCredentialOptions(CredentialOptions.nullCredential());
       setDataHost(hostPort[0]);
       setTableAdminHost(hostPort[0]);
       setInstanceAdminHost(hostPort[0]);
diff --git a/bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-client-core/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/config/TestBigtableOptions.java b/bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-client-core/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/config/TestBigtableOptions.java
index db3723f742..c74f05c632 100644
--- a/bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-client-core/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/config/TestBigtableOptions.java
+++ b/bigtable-client-core-parent/bigtable-client-core/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/bigtable/config/TestBigtableOptions.java
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ public void testEmulator() {
     Assert.assertEquals("localhost", options.getInstanceAdminHost());
     Assert.assertEquals("localhost", options.getTableAdminHost());
     Assert.assertTrue(options.usePlaintextNegotiation());
+    Assert.assertEquals(CredentialOptions.nullCredential(), options.getCredentialOptions());
 
     setTestEnv(oldEnv);
     options = new BigtableOptions.Builder()
@@ -112,6 +113,7 @@ public void testEmulator() {
     Assert.assertEquals(BigtableOptions.BIGTABLE_INSTANCE_ADMIN_HOST_DEFAULT, options.getInstanceAdminHost());
     Assert.assertEquals(BigtableOptions.BIGTABLE_TABLE_ADMIN_HOST_DEFAULT, options.getTableAdminHost());
     Assert.assertFalse(options.usePlaintextNegotiation());
+    Assert.assertEquals(CredentialOptions.defaultCredentials(), options.getCredentialOptions());
   }
 
   /**