diff --git a/docs/linux.md b/docs/linux.md
index 91dded6d..a1e92a3e 100644
--- a/docs/linux.md
+++ b/docs/linux.md
@@ -12,7 +12,15 @@ Define AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID and AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY environment variables with th
 export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=YourAccessKeyId
 export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=YourSecretAccessKey
 ```
-optionally, set `AWS_SESSION_TOKEN` if integrating with temporary token and `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` for the region other than `us-west-2`
+optionally, set `AWS_SESSION_TOKEN` if integrating with temporary token.
+
+#### Setting region
+
+If using kvssink, the region can be set in 2 ways:
+1. Set `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` to the desired region, or,
+2. Set the `aws-region` property.
+
+If `aws-region` and `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` are set, the `aws-region` property would be used instead of the env.
 
 ###### Discovering audio and video devices available in your system.
 Run the `gst-device-monitor-1.0` command to identify available media devices in your system. An example output as follows:
diff --git a/docs/macos.md b/docs/macos.md
index 430a204b..297c9542 100644
--- a/docs/macos.md
+++ b/docs/macos.md
@@ -6,7 +6,14 @@ Define AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID and AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY environment variables with th
 export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=YourAccessKeyId
 export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=YourSecretAccessKey
 ```
-optionally, set `AWS_SESSION_TOKEN` if integrating with temporary token and `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` for the region other than `us-west-2`
+
+#### Setting region
+
+If using kvssink, the region can be set in 2 ways:
+1. Set `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` to the desired region, or,
+2. Set the `aws-region` property.
+
+If `aws-region` and `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` are set, the `aws-region` property would be used instead of the env.
 
 ###### Discovering available devices.
 Run the `gst-device-monitor-1.0` command to identify available media devices in your system. An example output as follows:
@@ -139,7 +146,7 @@ gst-launch-1.0 -v  souphttpsrc location="https://.../playlist.m3u8" ! hlsdemux n
 Change your current working directory to `build`. Launch the sample application with a stream name and a path to the file and it will start streaming.
 
 ```
-AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=YourAccessKeyId AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=YourSecretAccessKey ./kvs_gstreamer_audio_video_sample <my-stream> </path/to/file>
+AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=YourAccessKeyId AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=YourSecretAccessKey AWS_DEFAULT_REGION=YourRegion ./kvs_gstreamer_audio_video_sample <my-stream> </path/to/file>
 ```
 
 ##### Running the GStreamer sample application to stream audio and video from live source
diff --git a/docs/raspberry-pi.md b/docs/raspberry-pi.md
index ff4aa960..5c27fc13 100644
--- a/docs/raspberry-pi.md
+++ b/docs/raspberry-pi.md
@@ -31,7 +31,14 @@ Define AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID and AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY environment variables with th
 export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=YourAccessKeyId
 export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=YourSecretAccessKey
 ```
-optionally, set `AWS_SESSION_TOKEN` if integrating with temporary token and `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` for the region other than `us-west-2`
+
+#### Setting region
+
+If using kvssink, the region can be set in 2 ways:
+1. Set `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` to the desired region, or,
+2. Set the `aws-region` property.
+
+If `aws-region` and `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` are set, the `aws-region` property would be used instead of the env.
 
 ##### Set GST_PLUGIN_PATH in environment variables
 ```
diff --git a/docs/windows.md b/docs/windows.md
index 8c710930..7f703ed9 100644
--- a/docs/windows.md
+++ b/docs/windows.md
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ Device found:
                 wasapi.device.description = "Speakers\ \(Conexant\ ISST\ Audio\)"
 ```
 
+
 Start sample application to send video stream to KVS using gstreamer plugin by executing the following command:
 
 1.  Before running the demo applications, set the environment by following the instructions below.
@@ -117,6 +118,12 @@ gst-launch-1.0 -v  filesrc location="YourAudioVideo.ts" ! tsdemux name=demux ! q
       set AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=YourSecretAccessKey
       ```
 
+     *  If using kvssink, the region can be set in 2 ways:
+        1. Set `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` to the desired region, or,
+        2. Set the `aws-region` property.
+
+        If `aws-region` and `AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` are set, the `aws-region` property would be used instead of the env.
+
       * Run the demo
           * **Example**:
             * Run the sample demo application for sending **webcam video** by executing ` kvs_gstreamer_sample.exe my-test-stream `  or
diff --git a/src/gstreamer/gstkvssink.cpp b/src/gstreamer/gstkvssink.cpp
index c1d3b77a..7bd6cd17 100644
--- a/src/gstreamer/gstkvssink.cpp
+++ b/src/gstreamer/gstkvssink.cpp
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_STATIC (gst_kvs_sink_debug);
 #define DEFAULT_ACCESS_KEY "access_key"
 #define DEFAULT_SECRET_KEY "secret_key"
 #define DEFAULT_SESSION_TOKEN "session_token"
-#define DEFAULT_REGION "us-west-2"
+#define DEFAULT_REGION ""
 #define DEFAULT_ROTATION_PERIOD_SECONDS 3600
 #define DEFAULT_LOG_FILE_PATH "../kvs_log_configuration"
 #define DEFAULT_STORAGE_SIZE_MB 128
@@ -318,12 +318,15 @@ void kinesis_video_producer_init(GstKvsSink *kvssink)
         session_token_str = string(kvssink->session_token);
     }
 
-    if (nullptr == (default_region = getenv(DEFAULT_REGION_ENV_VAR))) {
-        region_str = string(kvssink->aws_region);
+    if (IS_EMPTY_STRING(kvssink->aws_region)) {
+        if (nullptr == (default_region = getenv(DEFAULT_REGION_ENV_VAR))) {
+            LOG_AND_THROW("No region set. Either set with env " << DEFAULT_REGION_ENV_VAR << " or set kvssink property aws-region");
+        } else {
+            region_str = string(default_region);
+        }
     } else {
-        region_str = string(default_region); // Use env var if both property and env var are available.
+        region_str = string(kvssink->aws_region);
     }
-
     unique_ptr<CredentialProvider> credential_provider;
 
     if (kvssink->iot_certificate) {