diff --git a/roles/inventory/linode/tasks/main.yml b/roles/inventory/linode/tasks/main.yml
index fae629c..9f30d08 100644
--- a/roles/inventory/linode/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/inventory/linode/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,12 +1,19 @@
 ---
 # Main tasks for linode_inventory role
 
+- name: Set API token (AWX credential injection takes precedence)
+  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+    linode_api_token: "{{ linode_api_token | default(lookup('env', 'LINODE_API_TOKEN')) | default('') }}"
+
 - name: Validate required variables
   ansible.builtin.assert:
     that:
       - linode_api_token is defined
       - linode_api_token | length > 0
-    fail_msg: "linode_api_token must be defined and not empty"
+    fail_msg: |
+      Linode API token not found. 
+      For AWX: Attach a Linode API Token credential to your job template
+      For local: Set LINODE_API_TOKEN environment variable or pass linode_api_token variable
     quiet: true
 
 - name: Ensure output directory exists
@@ -16,20 +23,6 @@
     mode: '0755'
   delegate_to: localhost
 
-- name: Check if Python requests module is available
-  ansible.builtin.command: python3 -c "import requests"
-  register: python_requests_check
-  failed_when: false
-  changed_when: false
-  delegate_to: localhost
-
-- name: Install Python requests if not available
-  ansible.builtin.pip:
-    name: requests
-    state: present
-  when: python_requests_check.rc != 0
-  delegate_to: localhost
-
 - name: Copy Linode inventory script
   ansible.builtin.copy:
     src: linode_inventory.py