diff --git a/awx/main/management/commands/provision_instance.py b/awx/main/management/commands/provision_instance.py
index b996db4125..7e1d01b4ba 100644
--- a/awx/main/management/commands/provision_instance.py
+++ b/awx/main/management/commands/provision_instance.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
             from awx.main.management.commands.register_queue import RegisterQueue
 
-            (changed, instance) = Instance.objects.register(ip_address=os.environ.get('MY_POD_IP'), node_type='control', uuid=settings.SYSTEM_UUID)
+            (changed, instance) = Instance.objects.register(ip_address=os.environ.get('MY_POD_IP'), node_type='control', node_uuid=settings.SYSTEM_UUID)
             RegisterQueue(settings.DEFAULT_CONTROL_PLANE_QUEUE_NAME, 100, 0, [], is_container_group=False).register()
             RegisterQueue(
                 settings.DEFAULT_EXECUTION_QUEUE_NAME,
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 max_concurrent_jobs=settings.DEFAULT_EXECUTION_QUEUE_MAX_CONCURRENT_JOBS,
             ).register()
         else:
-            (changed, instance) = Instance.objects.register(hostname=hostname, node_type=node_type, uuid=uuid)
+            (changed, instance) = Instance.objects.register(hostname=hostname, node_type=node_type, node_uuid=uuid)
         if changed:
             print("Successfully registered instance {}".format(hostname))
         else:
diff --git a/awx/main/managers.py b/awx/main/managers.py
index b674049b0e..86ab328121 100644
--- a/awx/main/managers.py
+++ b/awx/main/managers.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # All Rights Reserved.
 
 import logging
+import uuid
 from django.db import models
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db.models.functions import Lower
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ class InstanceManager(models.Manager):
             return node[0]
         raise RuntimeError("No instance found with the current cluster host id")
 
-    def register(self, uuid=None, hostname=None, ip_address=None, node_type='hybrid', defaults=None):
+    def register(self, node_uuid=None, hostname=None, ip_address=None, node_type='hybrid', defaults=None):
         if not hostname:
             hostname = settings.CLUSTER_HOST_ID
 
@@ -131,8 +132,8 @@ class InstanceManager(models.Manager):
                         logger.warning("IP address {0} conflict detected, ip address unset for host {1}.".format(ip_address, other_hostname))
 
             # Return existing instance that matches hostname or UUID (default to UUID)
-            if uuid is not None and uuid != UUID_DEFAULT and self.filter(uuid=uuid).exists():
-                instance = self.filter(uuid=uuid)
+            if node_uuid is not None and node_uuid != UUID_DEFAULT and self.filter(uuid=node_uuid).exists():
+                instance = self.filter(uuid=node_uuid)
             else:
                 # if instance was not retrieved by uuid and hostname was, use the hostname
                 instance = self.filter(hostname=hostname)
@@ -170,9 +171,7 @@ class InstanceManager(models.Manager):
             }
             if defaults is not None:
                 create_defaults.update(defaults)
-            uuid_option = {}
-            if uuid is not None:
-                uuid_option = {'uuid': uuid}
+            uuid_option = {'uuid': node_uuid if node_uuid is not None else uuid.uuid4()}
             if node_type == 'execution' and 'version' not in create_defaults:
                 create_defaults['version'] = RECEPTOR_PENDING
             instance = self.create(hostname=hostname, ip_address=ip_address, node_type=node_type, **create_defaults, **uuid_option)
diff --git a/awx/main/tasks/system.py b/awx/main/tasks/system.py
index 12b1981a85..6fc42d371b 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks/system.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks/system.py
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ def cluster_node_heartbeat(dispatch_time=None, worker_tasks=None):
             logger.warning(f'Heartbeat skew - interval={(nowtime - last_last_seen).total_seconds():.4f}, expected={settings.CLUSTER_NODE_HEARTBEAT_PERIOD}')
     else:
         if settings.AWX_AUTO_DEPROVISION_INSTANCES:
-            (changed, this_inst) = Instance.objects.register(ip_address=os.environ.get('MY_POD_IP'), node_type='control', uuid=settings.SYSTEM_UUID)
+            (changed, this_inst) = Instance.objects.register(ip_address=os.environ.get('MY_POD_IP'), node_type='control', node_uuid=settings.SYSTEM_UUID)
             if changed:
                 logger.warning(f'Recreated instance record {this_inst.hostname} after unexpected removal')
             this_inst.local_health_check()