diff --git a/src/quantum/azext_quantum/_validators.py b/src/quantum/azext_quantum/_validators.py
index d4836392727..04a55fbc214 100644
--- a/src/quantum/azext_quantum/_validators.py
+++ b/src/quantum/azext_quantum/_validators.py
@@ -44,8 +44,3 @@ def validate_workspace_and_target_info(cmd, namespace):
     """
     validate_workspace_info(cmd, namespace)
     validate_target_info(cmd, namespace)
-
-    # For the time being (Private Preview), we also need the AZURE_QUANTUM_STORAGE env variable populated
-    # with the Azure Storage connection string to use to upload the program.
-    if 'AZURE_QUANTUM_STORAGE' not in os.environ:
-        raise ValueError(f"Please set the AZURE_QUANTUM_STORAGE environment variable with an Azure Storage's connection string.")
diff --git a/src/quantum/azext_quantum/operations/job.py b/src/quantum/azext_quantum/operations/job.py
index 12b94e8a9bd..fba1d901d2b 100644
--- a/src/quantum/azext_quantum/operations/job.py
+++ b/src/quantum/azext_quantum/operations/job.py
@@ -96,8 +96,9 @@ def _generate_submit_args(program_args, ws, target, token, project, job_name, sh
     args.append("--output")
     args.append("Id")
 
-    args.append("--storage")
-    args.append(os.environ['AZURE_QUANTUM_STORAGE'])
+    if 'AZURE_QUANTUM_STORAGE' in os.environ:
+        args.append("--storage")
+        args.append(os.environ['AZURE_QUANTUM_STORAGE'])
 
     args.append("--aad-token")
     args.append(token)