diff --git a/awx/settings/defaults.py b/awx/settings/defaults.py
index 28f5b20ec8..b6a3966647 100644
--- a/awx/settings/defaults.py
+++ b/awx/settings/defaults.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ DATABASES = {
 # the K8S cluster where awx itself is running)
 IS_K8S = False
 
-AWX_CONTAINER_GROUP_KEEP_POD = True
+AWX_CONTAINER_GROUP_KEEP_POD = False
 AWX_CONTAINER_GROUP_K8S_API_TIMEOUT = 10
 AWX_CONTAINER_GROUP_POD_LAUNCH_RETRIES = 100
 AWX_CONTAINER_GROUP_POD_LAUNCH_RETRY_DELAY = 5