diff --git a/src/runpod_flash/core/credentials.py b/src/runpod_flash/core/credentials.py
index a984bf32..0abc1888 100644
--- a/src/runpod_flash/core/credentials.py
+++ b/src/runpod_flash/core/credentials.py
@@ -51,10 +51,35 @@ def get_api_key() -> Optional[str]:
         creds = get_credentials()
     except Exception:
         log.debug("Failed to read credentials file", exc_info=True)
-        return None
-    if creds and isinstance(creds.get("api_key"), str) and creds["api_key"].strip():
-        return creds["api_key"]
+    else:
+        if creds and isinstance(creds.get("api_key"), str) and creds["api_key"].strip():
+            return creds["api_key"]
+
+    return _get_runpodctl_api_key()
+
 
+def _get_runpodctl_api_key() -> Optional[str]:
+    """Read runpodctl's top-level `apikey` from the config file.
+
+    runpodctl writes a top-level `apikey` (and `apiurl`) key with no profile
+    table, which runpod-python's profile-based lookup cannot see. Fall back to
+    parsing the file directly so a config written by runpodctl authenticates
+    flash. Returns None when the file or key is missing, malformed, or blank.
+    """
+    try:
+        import tomllib
+    except ImportError:
+        import tomli as tomllib
+
+    try:
+        with get_credentials_path().open("rb") as f:
+            data = tomllib.load(f)
+    except (OSError, ValueError):
+        log.debug("Failed to read credentials file for runpodctl apikey", exc_info=True)
+        return None
+    api_key = data.get("apikey")
+    if isinstance(api_key, str) and api_key.strip():
+        return api_key
     return None
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_credentials.py b/tests/unit/test_credentials.py
index 5ef368a2..066a530c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_credentials.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_credentials.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 else:
     import tomli as tomllib
 
+import pytest
+
 from runpod_flash.core.credentials import (
     get_api_key,
     get_credentials_path,
@@ -57,6 +59,37 @@ def test_handles_corrupt_credentials_file(self, isolate_credentials_file):
         isolate_credentials_file.write_text("not valid toml {{{{")
         assert get_api_key() is None
 
+    def test_falls_back_to_runpodctl_top_level_apikey(self, isolate_credentials_file):
+        """A config.toml written by runpodctl (top-level `apikey`, no [default]
+        profile) must authenticate flash."""
+        isolate_credentials_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        isolate_credentials_file.write_text(
+            "apikey = 'rpa_runpodctl_key'\napiurl = 'https://api.runpod.io/graphql'\n"
+        )
+        assert get_api_key() == "rpa_runpodctl_key"
+
+    def test_default_profile_takes_precedence_over_runpodctl_apikey(
+        self, isolate_credentials_file
+    ):
+        isolate_credentials_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        isolate_credentials_file.write_text(
+            "apikey = 'rpa_runpodctl_key'\n[default]\napi_key = 'flash-key'\n"
+        )
+        assert get_api_key() == "flash-key"
+
+    def test_ignores_blank_runpodctl_apikey(self, isolate_credentials_file):
+        isolate_credentials_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        isolate_credentials_file.write_text("apikey = '  '\n")
+        assert get_api_key() is None
+
+    def test_no_file_still_raises_runpod_api_key_error(self, isolate_credentials_file):
+        """With no credentials file at all, validation must raise."""
+        from runpod_flash.core.exceptions import RunpodAPIKeyError
+        from runpod_flash.core.validation import validate_api_key
+
+        with pytest.raises(RunpodAPIKeyError):
+            validate_api_key()
+
 
 class TestSaveApiKey:
     def test_creates_file_and_directories(self, isolate_credentials_file):