diff --git a/.changeset/metal-years-rhyme.md b/.changeset/metal-years-rhyme.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9c6daebdac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/metal-years-rhyme.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-techdocs-backend': patch
+'@backstage/plugin-techdocs': patch
+---
+
+The `techdocs.builder` config is now optional and it will default to `local`.