diff --git a/lib/cadet/logger/cloudwatch_logger.ex b/lib/cadet/logger/cloudwatch_logger.ex
index 6c828582c..d77c89a31 100644
--- a/lib/cadet/logger/cloudwatch_logger.ex
+++ b/lib/cadet/logger/cloudwatch_logger.ex
@@ -27,13 +27,17 @@ defmodule Cadet.Logger.CloudWatchLogger do
   @impl true
   def init({__MODULE__, opts}) when is_list(opts) do
     config = configure_merge(read_env(), opts)
-    {:ok, init(config, %__MODULE__{})}
+    state = init(config, %__MODULE__{})
+    ensure_log_stream_exists(state.log_group, state.log_stream)
+    {:ok, state}
   end
 
   @impl true
   def init({__MODULE__, name}) when is_atom(name) do
     config = read_env()
-    {:ok, init(config, %__MODULE__{})}
+    state = init(config, %__MODULE__{})
+    ensure_log_stream_exists(state.log_group, state.log_stream)
+    {:ok, state}
   end
 
   @impl true
@@ -159,6 +163,65 @@ defmodule Cadet.Logger.CloudWatchLogger do
     end
   end
 
+  # Ensures the log stream exists, creates it if not
+  # Returns :ok or :error
+  # Uses ExAws.Logs.describe_log_streams and ExAws.Logs.create_log_stream
+  # Assumes ExAws.Logs is available
+
+  defp ensure_log_stream_exists(log_group, log_stream) do
+    describe_op = %ExAws.Operation.JSON{
+      http_method: :post,
+      service: :logs,
+      headers: [
+        {"x-amz-target", "Logs_20140328.DescribeLogStreams"},
+        {"content-type", "application/x-amz-json-1.1"}
+      ],
+      data: %{
+        "logGroupName" => log_group,
+        "logStreamNamePrefix" => log_stream
+      }
+    }
+
+    client = Application.get_env(:ex_aws, :ex_aws_mock, ExAws)
+
+    case client.request(describe_op) do
+      {:ok, %{"logStreams" => streams}} ->
+        if Enum.any?(streams, fn s -> s["logStreamName"] == log_stream end) do
+          :ok
+        else
+          create_log_stream(log_group, log_stream, client)
+        end
+
+      {:error, reason} ->
+        Logger.error("Failed to describe log streams: #{inspect(reason)}")
+        :error
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp create_log_stream(log_group, log_stream, client) do
+    create_op = %ExAws.Operation.JSON{
+      http_method: :post,
+      service: :logs,
+      headers: [
+        {"x-amz-target", "Logs_20140328.CreateLogStream"},
+        {"content-type", "application/x-amz-json-1.1"}
+      ],
+      data: %{
+        "logGroupName" => log_group,
+        "logStreamName" => log_stream
+      }
+    }
+
+    case client.request(create_op) do
+      {:ok, _} ->
+        :ok
+
+      {:error, reason} ->
+        Logger.error("Failed to create log stream: #{inspect(reason)}")
+        :error
+    end
+  end
+
   defp build_log_operation(log_stream, log_group, buffer) do
     # The headers and body structure can be found in the AWS API documentation:
     # https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudWatchLogs/latest/APIReference/API_PutLogEvents.html
diff --git a/test/cadet/logger/cloudwatch_logger_test.exs b/test/cadet/logger/cloudwatch_logger_test.exs
index a19b64c7a..24c792e88 100644
--- a/test/cadet/logger/cloudwatch_logger_test.exs
+++ b/test/cadet/logger/cloudwatch_logger_test.exs
@@ -21,6 +21,26 @@ defmodule Cadet.Logger.CloudWatchLoggerTest do
       metadata: [:request_id]
     )
 
+    # Mock the DescribeLogStreams request during initialization
+    expect(ExAwsMock, :request, fn %ExAws.Operation.JSON{} = op
+                                   when op.headers == [
+                                          {"x-amz-target", "Logs_20140328.DescribeLogStreams"},
+                                          {"content-type", "application/x-amz-json-1.1"}
+                                        ] ->
+      # Simulate no existing log streams
+      {:ok, %{"logStreams" => []}}
+    end)
+
+    # Mock the CreateLogStream request during initialization
+    expect(ExAwsMock, :request, fn %ExAws.Operation.JSON{} = op
+                                   when op.headers == [
+                                          {"x-amz-target", "Logs_20140328.CreateLogStream"},
+                                          {"content-type", "application/x-amz-json-1.1"}
+                                        ] ->
+      # Simulate successful log stream creation
+      {:ok, %{}}
+    end)
+
     LoggerBackends.add({CloudWatchLogger, :cloudwatch_logger})
 
     Logger.configure_backend(:console, level: :error, format: "$metadata[$level] $message\n")