diff --git a/pkg/platform/packet/packet.go b/pkg/platform/packet/packet.go
index d46b8dfcb..01c2fe54f 100644
--- a/pkg/platform/packet/packet.go
+++ b/pkg/platform/packet/packet.go
@@ -217,28 +217,19 @@ func (c *config) terraformSmartApply(ex *terraform.Executor) error {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "parsing DNS configuration failed")
 	}
 
-	// If the provider isn't manual, apply everything in a single step.
-	if dnsProvider != dns.DNSManual {
-		return ex.Apply()
-	}
-
 	arguments := []string{"apply", "-auto-approve"}
 
-	// Get DNS entries (it forces the creation of the controller nodes).
+	// Make sure to create DNS entries before bootkube starts
 	arguments = append(arguments, fmt.Sprintf("-target=module.packet-%s.null_resource.dns_entries", c.ClusterName))
-
-	// Add worker nodes to speed things up.
-	for index := range c.WorkerPools {
-		arguments = append(arguments, fmt.Sprintf("-target=module.worker-pool-%d.packet_device.nodes", index))
-	}
-
-	// Create controller and workers nodes.
 	if err := ex.Execute(arguments...); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "failed executing Terraform")
 	}
 
-	if err := dns.AskToConfigure(ex, &c.DNS); err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "failed to configure DNS entries")
+	// If the provider is manual, ask to configure
+	if dnsProvider == dns.DNSManual {
+		if err := dns.AskToConfigure(ex, &c.DNS); err != nil {
+			return errors.Wrap(err, "failed to configure DNS entries")
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Finish deployment.