diff --git a/.changeset/init-needs-no-account.md b/.changeset/init-needs-no-account.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..13a6bc01c3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/init-needs-no-account.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@clerk/shared': patch
+---
+
+The missing and invalid key errors now say that `npx clerk@latest init` does not need a Clerk account and writes temporary dev keys. Readers previously saw `init` listed beside `link`, `env pull` and the Dashboard link, and assumed signing up was required before any of the steps would work.
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/__tests__/error.spec.ts b/packages/shared/src/__tests__/error.spec.ts
index 2e4b7e09cea..0588a852a94 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/__tests__/error.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/__tests__/error.spec.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ describe('ErrorThrower', () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it('says init needs no signup, so agents do not read it as requiring an account', () => {
+    expect(() => errorThrower.throwMissingPublishableKeyError()).toThrow(
+      "'npx clerk@latest init' does not need a Clerk account and writes temporary dev keys.",
+    );
+  });
+
   it('names the missing key so the secret key error is distinguishable from the publishable key error', () => {
     expect(() => errorThrower.throwMissingSecretKeyError()).toThrow(
       '@clerk/test-package: Missing secretKey.\n\nTo use an existing Clerk app, run:\nnpx clerk@latest link\nnpx clerk@latest env pull',
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/errors/keySetupGuidance.ts b/packages/shared/src/errors/keySetupGuidance.ts
index cda3ba1e7ca..28b9a0ab31e 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/errors/keySetupGuidance.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/errors/keySetupGuidance.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ const dashboardFallback = `Or copy keys from https://dashboard.clerk.com/~/api-k
 export const keySetupGuidance = `To create a new Clerk app, run:
 npx clerk@latest init
 
+'npx clerk@latest init' does not need a Clerk account and writes temporary dev keys.
+
 ${existingAppSteps}
 
 ${dashboardFallback}`;