diff --git a/truss/cli/train/deploy_checkpoints.py b/truss/cli/train/deploy_checkpoints.py
index aa2996899..4cda489f8 100644
--- a/truss/cli/train/deploy_checkpoints.py
+++ b/truss/cli/train/deploy_checkpoints.py
@@ -284,6 +284,10 @@ def _get_compute(compute: Optional[Compute]) -> Compute:
     if not compute:
         compute = Compute(cpu_count=0, memory="0Mi")
     compute.accelerator = _get_accelerator_if_specified(compute.accelerator)
+    # User did not specify an accelerator, so we default to CPU.
+    if not compute.accelerator:
+        compute.cpu_count = int(truss_config.DEFAULT_CPU)
+        compute.memory = truss_config.DEFAULT_MEMORY
     return compute
 
 
diff --git a/truss/tests/cli/train/test_deploy_checkpoints.py b/truss/tests/cli/train/test_deploy_checkpoints.py
index 35ef802bc..bcaa0a6ab 100644
--- a/truss/tests/cli/train/test_deploy_checkpoints.py
+++ b/truss/tests/cli/train/test_deploy_checkpoints.py
@@ -57,6 +57,13 @@ def deploy_checkpoints_mock_select(create_mock_prompt):
         yield mock
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def deploy_checkpoints_mock_select_cpu(create_mock_prompt):
+    with patch("truss.cli.train.deploy_checkpoints.inquirer.select") as mock:
+        mock.side_effect = lambda message, **kwargs: create_mock_prompt(None)
+        yield mock
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def deploy_checkpoints_mock_text(create_mock_prompt):
     with patch("truss.cli.train.deploy_checkpoints.inquirer.text") as mock:
@@ -164,6 +171,28 @@ def test_prepare_checkpoint_deploy_empty_config(
     )
 
 
+def test_prepare_checkpoint_deploy_empty_config_cpu(
+    mock_remote,
+    deploy_checkpoints_mock_select_cpu,
+    deploy_checkpoints_mock_text,
+    deploy_checkpoints_mock_checkbox,
+):
+    # Create empty config
+    empty_config = definitions.DeployCheckpointsConfig()
+    result = prepare_checkpoint_deploy(
+        remote_provider=mock_remote,
+        checkpoint_deploy_config=empty_config,
+        project_id="project123",
+        job_id="job123",
+    )
+    assert isinstance(result, PrepareCheckpointResult)
+    assert result.checkpoint_deploy_config.compute.cpu_count == int(
+        truss_config.DEFAULT_CPU
+    )
+    assert result.checkpoint_deploy_config.compute.memory == truss_config.DEFAULT_MEMORY
+    assert result.checkpoint_deploy_config.compute.accelerator is None
+
+
 def test_prepare_checkpoint_deploy_complete_config(
     mock_remote,
     deploy_checkpoints_mock_select,