diff --git a/templates/ocata/nova.conf b/templates/ocata/nova.conf
index 3859b03f..338d7735 100644
--- a/templates/ocata/nova.conf
+++ b/templates/ocata/nova.conf
@@ -169,3 +169,10 @@ lock_path=/var/lock/nova
 {% include "parts/section-serial-console" %}
 
 {% include "parts/section-placement" %}
+
+[scheduler]
+# NOTE(jamespage): perform automatic host cell mapping
+#                  until we can orchestrate this better
+#                  using the nova-cc <--> nova-compute
+#                  relation
+discover_hosts_in_cells_interval = 30