diff --git a/storage/cloud.py b/storage/cloud.py
index ff7f1a281..e05943c95 100644
--- a/storage/cloud.py
+++ b/storage/cloud.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class _CloudStorage(BaseStorageV2):
     if not self._initialized:
       self._cloud_conn = self._connection_class(self._access_key, self._secret_key,
                                                 **self._connect_kwargs)
-      self._cloud_bucket = self._cloud_conn.get_bucket(self._bucket_name)
+      self._cloud_bucket = self._cloud_conn.get_bucket(self._bucket_name, validate=False)
       self._initialized = True
 
   def _debug_key(self, key):