diff --git a/.changeset/tough-lies-grow.md b/.changeset/tough-lies-grow.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dab952df65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/tough-lies-grow.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-techdocs-backend': patch
+'@backstage/plugin-techdocs': patch
+---
+
+The `techdocs` config is now marked as optional.
diff --git a/plugins/techdocs-backend/config.d.ts b/plugins/techdocs-backend/config.d.ts
index 4954392828..1520ad70ec 100644
--- a/plugins/techdocs-backend/config.d.ts
+++ b/plugins/techdocs-backend/config.d.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export interface Config {
    * Configuration options for the techdocs-backend plugin
    * @see http://backstage.io/docs/features/techdocs/configuration
    */
-  techdocs: {
+  techdocs?: {
     /**
      * Documentation building process depends on the builder attr
      * @visibility frontend
diff --git a/plugins/techdocs/config.d.ts b/plugins/techdocs/config.d.ts
index 7294f52816..584d340fbf 100644
--- a/plugins/techdocs/config.d.ts
+++ b/plugins/techdocs/config.d.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export interface Config {
    * Configuration options for the techdocs plugin
    * @see http://backstage.io/docs/features/techdocs/configuration
    */
-  techdocs: {
+  techdocs?: {
     /**
      * Documentation building process depends on the builder attr
      * @visibility frontend