diff --git a/integrations/nvidia/src/haystack_integrations/components/embedders/nvidia/_nim_backend.py b/integrations/nvidia/src/haystack_integrations/components/embedders/nvidia/_nim_backend.py
index 26ba33c71..ee25df7fd 100644
--- a/integrations/nvidia/src/haystack_integrations/components/embedders/nvidia/_nim_backend.py
+++ b/integrations/nvidia/src/haystack_integrations/components/embedders/nvidia/_nim_backend.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         model: str,
         api_url: str,
-        api_key: Optional[Secret] = None,
+        api_key: Optional[Secret] = Secret.from_env_var("NVIDIA_API_KEY"),
         model_kwargs: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
     ):
         headers = {
diff --git a/integrations/nvidia/src/haystack_integrations/components/generators/nvidia/_nim_backend.py b/integrations/nvidia/src/haystack_integrations/components/generators/nvidia/_nim_backend.py
index 879fe8a6b..5253b3254 100644
--- a/integrations/nvidia/src/haystack_integrations/components/generators/nvidia/_nim_backend.py
+++ b/integrations/nvidia/src/haystack_integrations/components/generators/nvidia/_nim_backend.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         model: str,
         api_url: str,
-        api_key: Optional[Secret] = None,
+        api_key: Optional[Secret] = Secret.from_env_var("NVIDIA_API_KEY"),
         model_kwargs: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
     ):
         headers = {