diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6b254c0..bd48218 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ use patch releases for compatibility fixes instead.
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Made `public` argument optional for `Beaker.workspace.create()`.
+
 ## [v1.26.0](https://github.com/allenai/beaker-py/releases/tag/v1.26.0) - 2024-02-28
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/beaker/data_model/workspace.py b/beaker/data_model/workspace.py
index 39ff314..8b13569 100644
--- a/beaker/data_model/workspace.py
+++ b/beaker/data_model/workspace.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class WorkspacePage(BasePage[Workspace]):
 class WorkspaceSpec(BaseModel):
     name: Optional[str] = None
     description: Optional[str] = None
-    public: bool = False
+    public: Optional[bool] = None
     org: Optional[str] = None
 
 
diff --git a/beaker/services/workspace.py b/beaker/services/workspace.py
index 8f862d7..1f3cce0 100644
--- a/beaker/services/workspace.py
+++ b/beaker/services/workspace.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def _get(id: str) -> Workspace:
             raise
 
     def create(
-        self, workspace: str, *, description: Optional[str] = None, public: bool = False
+        self, workspace: str, *, description: Optional[str] = None, public: Optional[bool] = None
     ) -> Workspace:
         """
         Create a workspace.