diff --git a/services/backup-daemon/docker/granular/storage_s3.py b/services/backup-daemon/docker/granular/storage_s3.py
index 17cd43d6..d6d87305 100644
--- a/services/backup-daemon/docker/granular/storage_s3.py
+++ b/services/backup-daemon/docker/granular/storage_s3.py
@@ -52,8 +52,6 @@ def get_s3_aliases(cls):
             if not aliases:
                 raise Exception("S3 aliases are enabled, but /aliases/s3_aliases.json is empty")
 
-            if "default" not in aliases:
-                raise Exception("Default S3 alias is not configured in /aliases/s3_aliases.json")
 
             cls.__s3_aliases_cache = aliases
 
@@ -67,7 +65,14 @@ def get_s3_alias_config(cls, storage_name=None):
             return None
 
         if not storage_name or not storage_name.strip():
-            raise Exception("storageName is required when S3 aliases are enabled")
+            fallback_bucket = cls.get_s3_bucket_name(alias=None)
+            if fallback_bucket:
+                cls.__log.info(
+                    "storageName not provided, falling back to s3Storage configuration (bucket: %s)",
+                    fallback_bucket
+                )
+                return None
+            raise Exception("storageName is required when S3 aliases are enabled and no s3Storage fallback is configured")
 
         storage_name = storage_name.strip()