diff --git a/packages/appsync-emulator-serverless/loadServerlessConfig.js b/packages/appsync-emulator-serverless/loadServerlessConfig.js
index 0d6124b..102197b 100644
--- a/packages/appsync-emulator-serverless/loadServerlessConfig.js
+++ b/packages/appsync-emulator-serverless/loadServerlessConfig.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
  */
 
 const Serverless = require('serverless');
+const AwsProvider = require('serverless/lib/plugins/aws/provider/awsProvider.js');
 const path = require('path');
 const fs = require('fs');
 
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@ class ConfigServerless extends Serverless {
     // make sure the command exists before doing anything else
     this.pluginManager.validateCommand(this.processedInput.commands);
 
+    this.setProvider('aws', new AwsProvider(this, this.processedInput.options));
+
     // populate variables after --help, otherwise help may fail to print
     // (https://github.com/serverless/serverless/issues/2041)
     return this.variables