diff --git a/awx/main/migrations/0128_set_default_pull_to_none.py b/awx/main/migrations/0128_set_default_pull_to_none.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3643c610e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/awx/main/migrations/0128_set_default_pull_to_none.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Generated by Django 2.2.16 on 2021-02-16 20:38
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('main', '0127_reset_pod_spec_override'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='executionenvironment',
+            name='pull',
+            field=models.CharField(choices=[('always', 'Always pull container before running.'), ('missing', 'No pull option has been selected.'), ('never', 'Never pull container before running.')], default=None, help_text='Pull image before running?', max_length=1024),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/awx/main/models/execution_environments.py b/awx/main/models/execution_environments.py
index 681cdf94db..cddd8c41e5 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/execution_environments.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/execution_environments.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class ExecutionEnvironment(CommonModel):
     pull = models.CharField(
         max_length=1024,
         choices=PULL_CHOICES,
-        default='missing',
+        default=None,
         help_text=_('Pull image before running?'),
     )
 
diff --git a/awx_collection/plugins/modules/tower_execution_environment.py b/awx_collection/plugins/modules/tower_execution_environment.py
index 862f4e3ab6..e738f9a3bf 100644
--- a/awx_collection/plugins/modules/tower_execution_environment.py
+++ b/awx_collection/plugins/modules/tower_execution_environment.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ options:
       description:
         - determine image pull behavior
       choices: ["always", "missing", "never"]
-      default: "missing"
+      default: None
       type: str
 extends_documentation_fragment: awx.awx.auth
 '''
diff --git a/awxkit/awxkit/api/pages/execution_environments.py b/awxkit/awxkit/api/pages/execution_environments.py
index a01aa91011..11e3e2f881 100644
--- a/awxkit/awxkit/api/pages/execution_environments.py
+++ b/awxkit/awxkit/api/pages/execution_environments.py
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ class ExecutionEnvironment(HasCreate, base.Base):
     NATURAL_KEY = ('name',)
 
     # fields are name, image, organization, managed_by_tower, credential
-    def create(self, name='', image='quay.io/ansible/ansible-runner:devel', credential=None, **kwargs):
+    def create(self, name='', image='quay.io/ansible/ansible-runner:devel', credential=None, pull=None, **kwargs):
         # we do not want to make a credential by default
-        payload = self.create_payload(name=name, image=image, credential=credential, **kwargs)
+        payload = self.create_payload(name=name, image=image, credential=credential, pull=pull, **kwargs)
         ret = self.update_identity(ExecutionEnvironments(self.connection).post(payload))
         return ret
 
@@ -33,12 +33,13 @@ class ExecutionEnvironment(HasCreate, base.Base):
         payload.ds = DSAdapter(self.__class__.__name__, self._dependency_store)
         return payload
 
-    def payload(self, name='', image=None, organization=None, credential=None, **kwargs):
+    def payload(self, name='', image=None, organization=None, credential=None, pull=None, **kwargs):
         payload = PseudoNamespace(
             name=name or "EE - {}".format(random_title()),
             image=image or random_title(10),
             organization=organization.id if organization else None,
             credential=credential.id if credential else None,
+            pull=pull if pull else None,
             **kwargs
         )