diff --git a/ibm/resource_ibm_resource_key.go b/ibm/resource_ibm_resource_key.go
index 5812adc43f..bb14badc2e 100644
--- a/ibm/resource_ibm_resource_key.go
+++ b/ibm/resource_ibm_resource_key.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func resourceIBMResourceKey() *schema.Resource {
 
 			"role": {
 				Type:        schema.TypeString,
-				Required:    true,
+				Optional:    true,
 				ForceNew:    true,
 				Description: "Name of the user role.Valid roles are Writer, Reader, Manager, Administrator, Operator, Viewer, Editor and Custom Roles.",
 				// ValidateFunc: validateRole,
@@ -195,7 +195,6 @@ func resourceIBMResourceKeyCreate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) erro
 		return err
 	}
 	name := d.Get("name").(string)
-	role := d.Get("role").(string)
 
 	var instanceID, aliasID string
 	if insID, ok := d.GetOk("resource_instance_id"); ok {
@@ -240,19 +239,22 @@ func resourceIBMResourceKeyCreate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) erro
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error creating resource key when get service: %s", err)
 	}
-	serviceRole, err := getRoleFromName(role, service.Name, meta)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Error creating resource key when get role: %s", err)
-	}
-
-	keyParameters.SetProperty("role_crn", serviceRole.RoleID)
 
 	resourceKeyCreate := rc.CreateResourceKeyOptions{
 		Name:       &name,
 		Source:     sourceCRN,
-		Role:       serviceRole.RoleID,
 		Parameters: &keyParameters,
 	}
+	if r, ok := d.GetOk("role"); ok {
+		role := r.(string)
+		serviceRole, err := getRoleFromName(role, service.Name, meta)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Error creating resource key when get role: %s", err)
+		}
+		keyParameters.SetProperty("role_crn", serviceRole.RoleID)
+		resourceKeyCreate.Role = serviceRole.RoleID
+	}
+
 	resourceKey, resp, err := rsContClient.CreateResourceKey(&resourceKeyCreate)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error creating resource key: %s with resp code: %s", err, resp)
diff --git a/ibm/resource_ibm_resource_key_test.go b/ibm/resource_ibm_resource_key_test.go
index ecea48842e..46bd4c21a3 100644
--- a/ibm/resource_ibm_resource_key_test.go
+++ b/ibm/resource_ibm_resource_key_test.go
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func TestAccIBMResourceKey_Parameters(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-func TestAccIBMResourceKeyWithCustomRole(t *testing.T) {
+func TestAccIBMResourceKey_WithCustomRole(t *testing.T) {
 	resourceName := fmt.Sprintf("tf-cos-%d", acctest.RandIntRange(10, 100))
 	resourceKey := fmt.Sprintf("tf-cos-%d", acctest.RandIntRange(10, 100))
 	crName := fmt.Sprintf("Name%d", acctest.RandIntRange(10, 100))
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func TestAccIBMResourceKeyWithCustomRole(t *testing.T) {
 					testAccCheckIBMResourceKeyExists("ibm_resource_key.resourceKey"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttr("ibm_resource_key.resourceKey", "name", resourceKey),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttr("ibm_resource_key.resourceKey", "credentials.%", "7"),
-					resource.TestCheckResourceAttr("ibm_resource_key.resourceKey", "role", crName),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttr("ibm_resource_key.resourceKey", "role", displayName),
 				),
 			},
 		},
diff --git a/website/docs/r/resource_key.html.markdown b/website/docs/r/resource_key.html.markdown
index d061ec565a..59a56fbb3f 100644
--- a/website/docs/r/resource_key.html.markdown
+++ b/website/docs/r/resource_key.html.markdown
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ Review the argument references that you can specify for your resource.
 
 - `name` - (Required, Forces new resource, String)  A descriptive name used to identify a resource key.
 - `parameters` (Optional, Map) Arbitrary parameters to pass to the resource in JSON format. If you want to create service credentials by using the private service endpoint, include the `service-endpoints =  "private"` parameter.
-- `role` - (Required, Forces new resource, String) The name of the user role. Valid roles are `Writer`, `Reader`, `Manager`, `Administrator`, `Operator`, `Viewer`, and `Editor`.
+- `role` - (Optional, Forces new resource, String) The name of the user role. Valid roles are `Writer`, `Reader`, `Manager`, `Administrator`, `Operator`, `Viewer`, and `Editor`. This argument is Optional only during creation of service credentials for Cloud Databases and other non-IAM-enabled services and is Required for all other IAM-enabled services.
 - `resource_instance_id` - (Optional, Forces new resource, String) The ID of the resource instance associated with the resource key. **Note** Conflicts with `resource_alias_id`.
 - `resource_alias_id` - (Optional, Forces new resource, String) The ID of the resource alias associated with the resource key. **Note** Conflicts with `resource_instance_id`.
 - `tags` (Optional, Array of strings) Tags associated with the resource key instance. **Note** Tags are managed locally and not stored on the IBM Cloud Service Endpoint at this moment.