diff --git a/tfx/orchestration/portable/launcher.py b/tfx/orchestration/portable/launcher.py
index e6de68315e..b17223c19e 100644
--- a/tfx/orchestration/portable/launcher.py
+++ b/tfx/orchestration/portable/launcher.py
@@ -149,10 +149,12 @@ def __init__(
       executor_spec: Optional[message.Message] = None,
       custom_driver_spec: Optional[message.Message] = None,
       platform_config: Optional[message.Message] = None,
-      custom_executor_operators: Optional[Dict[Any,
-                                               Type[ExecutorOperator]]] = None,
-      custom_driver_operators: Optional[Dict[Any,
-                                             Type[DriverOperator]]] = None):
+      custom_executor_operators: Optional[
+          Dict[Any, Type[ExecutorOperator]]
+      ] = None,
+      custom_driver_operators: Optional[Dict[Any, Type[DriverOperator]]] = None,
+      creds: Optional[grpc.ChannelCredentials] = None,
+  ):
     """Initializes a Launcher.
 
     Args:
@@ -174,6 +176,7 @@ def __init__(
         ExecutorOperation implementation.
       custom_driver_operators: a map of ExecutableSpec to its DriverOperator
         implementation.
+      creds: The credentials to use for the execution watcher.
 
     Raises:
       ValueError: when component and component_config are not launchable by the
@@ -191,6 +194,7 @@ def __init__(
     self._driver_operators = {}
     self._driver_operators.update(DEFAULT_DRIVER_OPERATORS)
     self._driver_operators.update(custom_driver_operators or {})
+    self._creds = creds or grpc.local_server_credentials()
 
     self._executor_operator = None
     if executor_spec:
@@ -600,7 +604,8 @@ def launch(self) -> Optional[data_types.ExecutionInfo]:
               port=portpicker.pick_unused_port(),
               mlmd_connection=self._mlmd_connection,
               execution=execution_preparation_result.execution_metadata,
-              creds=grpc.local_server_credentials())
+              creds=self._creds,
+          )
           self._executor_operator.with_execution_watcher(
               executor_watcher.address)
           executor_watcher.start()