diff --git a/lib/tempest b/lib/tempest
index 32630dbf59..691ad86a2d 100644
--- a/lib/tempest
+++ b/lib/tempest
@@ -377,6 +377,15 @@ function configure_tempest {
         iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG compute-feature-enabled shelve False
         # Cells doesn't support hot-plugging virtual interfaces.
         iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG compute-feature-enabled interface_attach False
+
+        if  [[ -z "$DEFAULT_INSTANCE_TYPE" ]]; then
+            # Cells supports resize but does not currently work with devstack
+            # because of the custom flavors created for Tempest runs which are
+            # not in the cells database.
+            # TODO(mriedem): work on adding a nova-manage command to sync
+            # flavors into the cells database.
+            iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG compute-feature-enabled resize False
+        fi
     fi
 
     # Network