diff --git a/container/image/guest/run_services.sh b/container/image/guest/run_services.sh
index 2a0757f132c..e5755ca097f 100644
--- a/container/image/guest/run_services.sh
+++ b/container/image/guest/run_services.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+if [[ "${USE_GCE_METADATA}" == "true" ]]; then
+  echo "build_api_credentials_use_gce_metadata=true" \
+    >> /etc/default/cuttlefish-host_orchestrator
+fi
+
 service nginx start
 service cuttlefish-host-resources start
 service cuttlefish-operator start