diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 67c2f2fb..3c5d58d3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,10 +28,11 @@ The same docker image can run on AWS Lambda, Amazon EC2, AWS Fargate, and local
 
 ### Docker Images
 
-Add one line to your Dockerfile:
+Copy the adapter into your Dockerfile and identify the OS-only runtime to AWS SDKs:
 
 ```dockerfile
 COPY --from=public.ecr.aws/awsguru/aws-lambda-adapter:1.1.0 /lambda-adapter /opt/extensions/lambda-adapter
+ENV AWS_EXECUTION_ENV=AWS_Lambda_provided_custom
 ```
 
 Pre-compiled multi-arch images (x86_64 and arm64) are available at [public.ecr.aws/awsguru/aws-lambda-adapter](https://gallery.ecr.aws/awsguru/aws-lambda-adapter). [Non-AWS base images](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/images-create.html) may be used since the [Runtime Interface Client](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/images-create.html#images-ric) ships with the Lambda Web Adapter.
diff --git a/docs/guide/src/getting-started/docker-images.md b/docs/guide/src/getting-started/docker-images.md
index da6f78d9..7786a1e1 100644
--- a/docs/guide/src/getting-started/docker-images.md
+++ b/docs/guide/src/getting-started/docker-images.md
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 # Docker Images
 
-To use Lambda Web Adapter with Docker images, package your web app in a Dockerfile and add one line to copy the adapter binary:
+To use Lambda Web Adapter with Docker images, package your web app in a Dockerfile, copy the adapter binary, and identify the OS-only runtime to AWS SDKs:
 
 ```dockerfile
 COPY --from=public.ecr.aws/awsguru/aws-lambda-adapter:1.1.0 /lambda-adapter /opt/extensions/lambda-adapter
+ENV AWS_EXECUTION_ENV=AWS_Lambda_provided_custom
 ```
 
+`AWS_EXECUTION_ENV` allows AWS SDK user agents to identify requests from OS-only Lambda runtimes. It must be set in the application image because a multi-stage `COPY --from` transfers the adapter binary, not environment metadata from the adapter image.
+
 [Non-AWS base images](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/images-create.html) can be used since the [Runtime Interface Client](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/images-create.html#images-ric) ships with the adapter.
 
 ## Example: Node.js Express App
@@ -13,6 +16,7 @@ COPY --from=public.ecr.aws/awsguru/aws-lambda-adapter:1.1.0 /lambda-adapter /opt
 ```dockerfile
 FROM public.ecr.aws/docker/library/node:20-slim
 COPY --from=public.ecr.aws/awsguru/aws-lambda-adapter:1.1.0 /lambda-adapter /opt/extensions/lambda-adapter
+ENV AWS_EXECUTION_ENV=AWS_Lambda_provided_custom
 ENV PORT=7000
 WORKDIR "/var/task"
 ADD src/package.json /var/task/package.json
diff --git a/docs/guide/src/getting-started/quick-start.md b/docs/guide/src/getting-started/quick-start.md
index 3cc95b7e..c4b63d95 100644
--- a/docs/guide/src/getting-started/quick-start.md
+++ b/docs/guide/src/getting-started/quick-start.md
@@ -11,13 +11,14 @@ AWS Lambda Web Adapter works with Lambda functions packaged as both Docker image
 
 ## Minimal Example (Docker)
 
-Add one line to your existing Dockerfile:
+Copy the adapter into your existing Dockerfile and identify the OS-only runtime to AWS SDKs:
 
 ```dockerfile
 COPY --from=public.ecr.aws/awsguru/aws-lambda-adapter:1.1.0 /lambda-adapter /opt/extensions/lambda-adapter
+ENV AWS_EXECUTION_ENV=AWS_Lambda_provided_custom
 ```
 
-That's it. Your web app now runs on Lambda.
+Your web app can now run on Lambda, and AWS SDK user agents can identify Lambda as its execution environment.
 
 ## Minimal Example (Zip)
 
diff --git a/docs/guide/src/getting-started/zip-packages.md b/docs/guide/src/getting-started/zip-packages.md
index b99e57b9..e6b46120 100644
--- a/docs/guide/src/getting-started/zip-packages.md
+++ b/docs/guide/src/getting-started/zip-packages.md
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ AWS_LAMBDA_EXEC_WRAPPER=/opt/bootstrap
 
 Set your function handler to your web application's startup script, e.g. `run.sh`.
 
+The layer bootstrap sets `AWS_EXECUTION_ENV` to `AWS_Lambda_provided_custom` when the variable is otherwise unset. This allows AWS SDK user agents to identify requests from OS-only Lambda runtimes. An explicitly configured value is preserved.
+
 ## SAM Template Example
 
 ```yaml
diff --git a/layer/bootstrap b/layer/bootstrap
index 53c613c1..973b258f 100755
--- a/layer/bootstrap
+++ b/layer/bootstrap
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-exec -- "${LAMBDA_TASK_ROOT}/${_HANDLER}"
\ No newline at end of file
+# OS-only runtimes do not define AWS_EXECUTION_ENV. Set the standard custom-runtime
+# value so AWS SDK user agents can identify requests originating from Lambda, while
+# preserving a value explicitly configured by the customer.
+export AWS_EXECUTION_ENV="${AWS_EXECUTION_ENV:-AWS_Lambda_provided_custom}"
+
+exec -- "${LAMBDA_TASK_ROOT}/${_HANDLER}"
diff --git a/tests/integ_tests/main.rs b/tests/integ_tests/main.rs
index ba0f1c5d..a67c4864 100644
--- a/tests/integ_tests/main.rs
+++ b/tests/integ_tests/main.rs
@@ -1389,3 +1389,44 @@ async fn test_no_tenant_id_header_when_absent() {
     endpoint.assert();
     assert_eq!(200, response.status());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn test_layer_bootstrap_sets_execution_environment() {
+    use std::fs;
+    use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+    use std::process::Command;
+    use std::time::{SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
+
+    let unique = SystemTime::now().duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH).unwrap().as_nanos();
+    let task_root = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("lambda-web-adapter-bootstrap-{}-{unique}", std::process::id()));
+    fs::create_dir(&task_root).unwrap();
+
+    let handler = task_root.join("handler");
+    fs::write(&handler, "#!/bin/sh\nprintf '%s' \"$AWS_EXECUTION_ENV\"\n").unwrap();
+    fs::set_permissions(&handler, fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o755)).unwrap();
+
+    let bootstrap = concat!(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"), "/layer/bootstrap");
+    let run = |execution_env: Option<&str>| {
+        let mut command = Command::new(bootstrap);
+        command.env("LAMBDA_TASK_ROOT", &task_root).env("_HANDLER", "handler");
+        match execution_env {
+            Some(value) => {
+                command.env("AWS_EXECUTION_ENV", value);
+            }
+            None => {
+                command.env_remove("AWS_EXECUTION_ENV");
+            }
+        }
+        command.output().unwrap()
+    };
+
+    let defaulted = run(None);
+    assert!(defaulted.status.success());
+    assert_eq!(defaulted.stdout, b"AWS_Lambda_provided_custom");
+
+    let configured = run(Some("customer-configured-value"));
+    assert!(configured.status.success());
+    assert_eq!(configured.stdout, b"customer-configured-value");
+
+    fs::remove_dir_all(task_root).unwrap();
+}