diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org.go
index 8b5c4585..631596e3 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org.go
@@ -392,6 +392,15 @@ type OrgDefaults struct {
 	// InitialMemories are default memories seeded into every workspace at
 	// creation time unless the workspace overrides them. Issue #1050.
 	InitialMemories []models.MemorySeed `yaml:"initial_memories" json:"initial_memories"`
+	// RequiredEnv / RecommendedEnv at the defaults level carry the
+	// runtime's own env requirements (e.g. ANTHROPIC_API_KEY for
+	// claude-code). They are injected into tmpl.RequiredEnv /
+	// tmpl.RecommendedEnv during Import so collectOrgEnv picks them up
+	// without needing an explicit org-level declaration. The same values
+	// also flow into each workspace's config.yaml at provision time via
+	// ensureDefaultConfig in workspace_provision.go.
+	RequiredEnv    []EnvRequirement `yaml:"required_env" json:"required_env"`
+	RecommendedEnv []EnvRequirement `yaml:"recommended_env" json:"recommended_env"`
 }
 
 type OrgSchedule struct {
@@ -638,6 +647,21 @@ func (h *OrgHandler) Import(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	// Inject runtime-required env from defaults into the template-level
+	// union. Each runtime declares its own required_env (e.g.
+	// ANTHROPIC_API_KEY for claude-code); without this injection,
+	// collectOrgEnv only sees what's explicitly declared in
+	// tmpl.RequiredEnv / OrgWorkspace.RequiredEnv and silently misses
+	// the runtime's needs. The canvas's preflight modal passes a
+	// correctly-populated tmpl via the `template` body path, so only
+	// the `dir` (template-on-disk) path needs this injection. Issue #232.
+	if len(tmpl.Defaults.RequiredEnv) > 0 {
+		tmpl.RequiredEnv = append(tmpl.RequiredEnv, tmpl.Defaults.RequiredEnv...)
+	}
+	if len(tmpl.Defaults.RecommendedEnv) > 0 {
+		tmpl.RecommendedEnv = append(tmpl.RecommendedEnv, tmpl.Defaults.RecommendedEnv...)
+	}
+
 	// Emit started AFTER the YAML is loaded so payload.name carries the
 	// resolved template name (was: empty when caller passed `dir` instead
 	// of inline `template`). Pre-parse error paths above return without
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org_test.go
index 19dbece9..9fce233b 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org_test.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org_test.go
@@ -1076,3 +1076,94 @@ func TestCollectOrgEnv_AnyOfWithInvalidMemberKeepsValidOnes(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("expected VALID_ONE to survive, got %v", reqNames(req))
 	}
 }
+
+// TestCollectOrgEnv_DefaultsRequiredEnv verifies that runtime-required_env
+// declared at the defaults level is picked up by collectOrgEnv, matching the
+// injection that Import performs from Defaults.RequiredEnv into tmpl.RequiredEnv
+// before calling collectOrgEnv. Without this injection, a template with
+// defaults.runtime=claude-code and no explicit RequiredEnv would silently skip
+// ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, causing the import preflight to pass while every workspace
+// fails on first LLM call. Issue #232.
+func TestCollectOrgEnv_DefaultsRequiredEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpl := &OrgTemplate{
+		Defaults: OrgDefaults{
+			Runtime:       "claude-code",
+			RequiredEnv:   strictReq("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"),
+			RecommendedEnv: strictReq("SERPER_API_KEY"),
+		},
+		Workspaces: []OrgWorkspace{
+			{
+				Name:        "Worker",
+				RequiredEnv: strictReq("GITHUB_TOKEN"),
+				Children: []OrgWorkspace{
+					{
+						Name: "Leaf",
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	req, rec := collectOrgEnv(tmpl)
+	// Required is the union: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY (from defaults) + GITHUB_TOKEN (from Worker).
+	wantReq := []string{"ANTHROPIC_API_KEY", "GITHUB_TOKEN"}
+	if !stringSlicesEqual(reqNames(req), wantReq) {
+		t.Errorf("required mismatch: got %v, want %v", reqNames(req), wantReq)
+	}
+	wantRec := []string{"SERPER_API_KEY"}
+	if !stringSlicesEqual(reqNames(rec), wantRec) {
+		t.Errorf("recommended mismatch: got %v, want %v", reqNames(rec), wantRec)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCollectOrgEnv_DefaultsRequiredEnv_DedupWithExplicitOrgLevel tests that
+// when BOTH defaults.RequiredEnv AND an explicit org-level RequiredEnv declare
+// the same key, collectOrgEnv deduplicates and keeps only one entry.
+func TestCollectOrgEnv_DefaultsRequiredEnv_DedupWithExplicitOrgLevel(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpl := &OrgTemplate{
+		RequiredEnv: strictReq("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"),
+		Defaults: OrgDefaults{
+			Runtime:       "claude-code",
+			RequiredEnv:   strictReq("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"),
+			RecommendedEnv: strictReq("SERPER_API_KEY"),
+		},
+		Workspaces: []OrgWorkspace{
+			{
+				Name: "Root",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	req, rec := collectOrgEnv(tmpl)
+	wantReq := []string{"ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"}
+	if !stringSlicesEqual(reqNames(req), wantReq) {
+		t.Errorf("required should dedupe: got %v, want %v", reqNames(req), wantReq)
+	}
+	if !stringSlicesEqual(reqNames(rec), []string{"SERPER_API_KEY"}) {
+		t.Errorf("recommended: got %v, want [SERPER_API_KEY]", reqNames(rec))
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCollectOrgEnv_DefaultsRequiredEnv_AnyOfFromDefaults tests that any-of
+// groups from defaults.RequiredEnv are preserved and flow into the union.
+func TestCollectOrgEnv_DefaultsRequiredEnv_AnyOfFromDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpl := &OrgTemplate{
+		Defaults: OrgDefaults{
+			Runtime: "claude-code",
+			RequiredEnv: []EnvRequirement{
+				anyOfReq("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY", "CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN"),
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	req, _ := collectOrgEnv(tmpl)
+	if len(req) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 1 requirement, got %d: %v", len(req), reqNames(req))
+	}
+	if req[0].Name != "" {
+		t.Errorf("expected any-of group from defaults.RequiredEnv, got strict name %q", req[0].Name)
+	}
+	want := []string{"ANTHROPIC_API_KEY", "CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN"}
+	got := append([]string(nil), req[0].AnyOf...)
+	sort.Strings(got)
+	if !stringSlicesEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("any-of mismatch: got %v, want %v", got, want)
+	}
+}