diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7f2ff6c..ae2a811 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ Available variables:
 | `init`                  |    no    | Describes if the repository should be initialized or not. Use `false` if you are backuping to an already existing repo.                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
 | `aws_access_key`        |    no    | The access key for the S3 backend                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
 | `aws_secret_access_key` |    no    | The secret access key for the S3 backend                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
+| `aws_default_region` |    no    | The desired region for the S3 backend                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
 
 Example:
 ```yaml
diff --git a/templates/restic_access_Linux.j2 b/templates/restic_access_Linux.j2
index 724c7ca..8c52cdc 100644
--- a/templates/restic_access_Linux.j2
+++ b/templates/restic_access_Linux.j2
@@ -6,10 +6,13 @@
 export RESTIC_REPOSITORY={{ restic_repos[item.repo].location }}
 export RESTIC_PASSWORD={{ restic_repos[item.repo].password }}
 {% if restic_repos[item.repo].aws_access_key is defined %}
-AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID={{ restic_repos[item.repo].aws_access_key }}
+export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID={{ restic_repos[item.repo].aws_access_key }}
 {% endif %}
 {% if restic_repos[item.repo].aws_secret_access_key is defined %}
-AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY={{ restic_repos[item.repo].aws_secret_access_key }}
+export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY={{ restic_repos[item.repo].aws_secret_access_key }}
+{% endif %}
+{% if restic_repos[item.repo].aws_default_region is defined %}
+export AWS_DEFAULT_REGION={{ restic_repos[item.repo].aws_default_region }}
 {% endif %}
 BACKUP_NAME={{ item.name }}
 {% if item.src is defined %}
diff --git a/templates/restic_script_Linux.j2 b/templates/restic_script_Linux.j2
index afae5cb..8374200 100644
--- a/templates/restic_script_Linux.j2
+++ b/templates/restic_script_Linux.j2
@@ -7,10 +7,13 @@ export RESTIC_REPOSITORY={{ restic_repos[item.repo].location }}
 export RESTIC_PASSWORD={{ restic_repos[item.repo].password }}
 BACKUP_NAME={{ item.name }}
 {% if restic_repos[item.repo].aws_access_key is defined %}
-AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID={{ restic_repos[item.repo].aws_access_key }}
+export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID={{ restic_repos[item.repo].aws_access_key }}
 {% endif %}
 {% if restic_repos[item.repo].aws_secret_access_key is defined %}
-AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY={{ restic_repos[item.repo].aws_secret_access_key }}
+export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY={{ restic_repos[item.repo].aws_secret_access_key }}
+{% endif %}
+{% if restic_repos[item.repo].aws_default_region is defined %}
+export AWS_DEFAULT_REGION={{ restic_repos[item.repo].aws_default_region }}
 {% endif %}
 {% if item.src is defined %}
 BACKUP_SOURCE={{ item.src }}