diff --git a/sky/clouds/aws.py b/sky/clouds/aws.py
index 55cfbf9c2e1..3e7cd08ad68 100644
--- a/sky/clouds/aws.py
+++ b/sky/clouds/aws.py
@@ -461,6 +461,13 @@ def _make(instance_list):
     def check_credentials(cls) -> Tuple[bool, Optional[str]]:
         """Checks if the user has access credentials to this cloud."""
 
+        dependency_installation_hints = (
+            'AWS dependencies are not installed. '
+            'Run the following commands:'
+            f'\n{cls._INDENT_PREFIX}  $ pip install skypilot[aws]'
+            f'\n{cls._INDENT_PREFIX}Credentials may also need to be set. '
+            f'{cls._STATIC_CREDENTIAL_HELP_STR}')
+
         # Checks if the AWS CLI is installed properly
         proc = subprocess.run('aws --version',
                               shell=True,
@@ -468,12 +475,14 @@ def check_credentials(cls) -> Tuple[bool, Optional[str]]:
                               stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                               stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
         if proc.returncode != 0:
-            return False, (
-                'AWS CLI is not installed properly. '
-                'Run the following commands:'
-                f'\n{cls._INDENT_PREFIX}  $ pip install skypilot[aws]'
-                f'\n{cls._INDENT_PREFIX}Credentials may also need to be set. '
-                f'{cls._STATIC_CREDENTIAL_HELP_STR}')
+            return False, dependency_installation_hints
+        try:
+            # Checks if aws boto is installed properly
+            # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel, unused-import
+            import boto3
+            import botocore
+        except ImportError:
+            return False, dependency_installation_hints
 
         # Checks if AWS credentials 1) exist and 2) are valid.
         # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/53548737/verify-aws-credentials-with-boto3