diff --git a/cluster_regional.tf b/cluster_regional.tf
index 79a471b630..a842f5cb63 100644
--- a/cluster_regional.tf
+++ b/cluster_regional.tf
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ resource "google_container_cluster" "primary" {
   }
 
   node_pool {
-    name = "default-pool"
+    name               = "default-pool"
+    initial_node_count = "${var.initial_node_count}"
 
     node_config {
       service_account = "${lookup(var.node_pools[0], "service_account", local.service_account)}"
diff --git a/cluster_zonal.tf b/cluster_zonal.tf
index 5a9e9f4688..05269feb64 100644
--- a/cluster_zonal.tf
+++ b/cluster_zonal.tf
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ resource "google_container_cluster" "zonal_primary" {
   }
 
   node_pool {
-    name = "default-pool"
+    name               = "default-pool"
+    initial_node_count = "${var.initial_node_count}"
 
     node_config {
       service_account = "${lookup(var.node_pools[0], "service_account", local.service_account)}"
diff --git a/variables.tf b/variables.tf
index 26d3b30df7..8a95caab5e 100644
--- a/variables.tf
+++ b/variables.tf
@@ -119,6 +119,11 @@ variable "ip_range_services" {
   description = "The _name_ of the secondary subnet range to use for services"
 }
 
+variable "initial_node_count" {
+  description = "The number of nodes to create in this cluster's default node pool."
+  default     = 0
+}
+
 variable "remove_default_node_pool" {
   description = "Remove default node pool while setting up the cluster"
   default     = false