diff --git a/docs/source/reference/config.rst b/docs/source/reference/config.rst
index d5ee4d2134a..4cec951216c 100644
--- a/docs/source/reference/config.rst
+++ b/docs/source/reference/config.rst
@@ -31,11 +31,9 @@ Available fields and semantics:
         cpus: 4+  # number of vCPUs, max concurrent spot jobs = 2 * cpus
         disk_size: 100
 
-  # Allow list for clouds to be used in `sky check`
+  # Allow list for clouds to be used
   #
-  # This field is used to restrict the clouds that SkyPilot will check and use
-  # when running `sky check`. Any cloud already enabled but not specified here
-  # will be disabled on the next `sky check` run.
+  # This field is used to restrict the clouds that SkyPilot will check and use.
   # If this field is not set, SkyPilot will check and use all supported clouds.
   #
   # Default: null (use all supported clouds).
diff --git a/sky/clouds/service_catalog/__init__.py b/sky/clouds/service_catalog/__init__.py
index d28b530ff06..f71e804b34f 100644
--- a/sky/clouds/service_catalog/__init__.py
+++ b/sky/clouds/service_catalog/__init__.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import typing
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Set, Tuple, Union
 
+from sky import skypilot_config
 from sky.clouds.service_catalog.config import fallback_to_default_catalog
 from sky.clouds.service_catalog.constants import ALL_CLOUDS
 from sky.clouds.service_catalog.constants import CATALOG_DIR
@@ -20,7 +21,12 @@
 
 def _map_clouds_catalog(clouds: CloudFilter, method_name: str, *args, **kwargs):
     if clouds is None:
-        clouds = list(ALL_CLOUDS)
+        # Honor the allowed_clouds config when clouds is not specified.
+        # Note: no op if disabled clouds are specified, since Optimizer will
+        # error out to user in the end.
+        clouds = typing.cast(
+            List[str],
+            skypilot_config.get_nested(('allowed_clouds',), list(ALL_CLOUDS)))
 
         # TODO(hemil): Remove this once the common service catalog
         # functions are refactored from clouds/kubernetes.py to