diff --git a/ironic_inspector/conf/processing.py b/ironic_inspector/conf/processing.py
index db86bb3fe..01f5555c3 100644
--- a/ironic_inspector/conf/processing.py
+++ b/ironic_inspector/conf/processing.py
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ _OPTS = [
                 default=False,
                 help=_('Whether to process nodes that are in running '
                        'states.')),
+    cfg.BoolOpt('update_pxe_enabled',
+                default=True,
+                help=_('Whether to update the pxe_enabled value according '
+                       'to the introspection data. This option has no effect '
+                       'if [processing]overwrite_existing is set to False')),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/ironic_inspector/plugins/standard.py b/ironic_inspector/plugins/standard.py
index e0342dbc9..a0f4143cd 100644
--- a/ironic_inspector/plugins/standard.py
+++ b/ironic_inspector/plugins/standard.py
@@ -294,7 +294,8 @@ class ValidateInterfacesHook(base.ProcessingHook):
                              node_info=node_info, data=introspection_data)
                     node_info.delete_port(port)
 
-        if CONF.processing.overwrite_existing:
+        if (CONF.processing.overwrite_existing
+                and CONF.processing.update_pxe_enabled):
             # Make sure is_pxe_enabled is up-to-date
             ports = node_info.ports()
             for iface in introspection_data['interfaces'].values():
diff --git a/ironic_inspector/test/functional.py b/ironic_inspector/test/functional.py
index 4d38af9ce..60531a183 100644
--- a/ironic_inspector/test/functional.py
+++ b/ironic_inspector/test/functional.py
@@ -310,9 +310,46 @@ class Test(Base):
         ]
         self.cli.create_port.assert_has_calls(calls, any_order=True)
         self.cli.delete_port.assert_called_once_with(uuid_to_delete)
-        self.cli.patch_port.assert_called_once_with(
-            uuid_to_update,
-            [{'op': 'replace', 'path': '/pxe_enabled', 'value': False}])
+
+        status = self.call_get_status(self.uuid)
+        self.check_status(status, finished=True, state=istate.States.finished)
+
+    def test_port_not_update_pxe_enabled(self):
+        cfg.CONF.set_override('add_ports', 'active', 'processing')
+        cfg.CONF.set_override('keep_ports', 'added', 'processing')
+        cfg.CONF.set_override('update_pxe_enabled', False, 'processing')
+
+        uuid_to_update = uuidutils.generate_uuid()
+        # One port with incorrect pxe_enabled.
+        self.cli.ports.return_value = [
+            mock.Mock(address=self.macs[0], id=uuid_to_update,
+                      node_id=self.uuid, extra={}, is_pxe_enabled=False)
+        ]
+        # Two more ports are created, one with client_id. Make sure the
+        # returned object has the same properties as requested in create().
+        self.cli.create_port.side_effect = mock.Mock
+
+        self.call_introspect(self.uuid)
+        eventlet.greenthread.sleep(DEFAULT_SLEEP)
+        self.cli.set_node_power_state.assert_called_once_with(self.uuid,
+                                                              'rebooting')
+
+        status = self.call_get_status(self.uuid)
+        self.check_status(status, finished=False, state=istate.States.waiting)
+
+        res = self.call_continue(self.data)
+        self.assertEqual({'uuid': self.uuid}, res)
+        eventlet.greenthread.sleep(DEFAULT_SLEEP)
+
+        self.cli.patch_node.assert_called_with(self.uuid, mock.ANY)
+        self.assertCalledWithPatch(self.patch, self.cli.patch_node)
+        calls = [
+            mock.call(node_uuid=self.uuid, address=self.macs[2],
+                      extra={'client-id': self.client_id},
+                      is_pxe_enabled=False),
+        ]
+        self.assertFalse(self.cli.patch_port.called)
+        self.cli.create_port.assert_has_calls(calls, any_order=True)
 
         status = self.call_get_status(self.uuid)
         self.check_status(status, finished=True, state=istate.States.finished)
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/pxe-enabled-for-pxe-a199e81128557bc0.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/pxe-enabled-for-pxe-a199e81128557bc0.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..807fe13bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/pxe-enabled-for-pxe-a199e81128557bc0.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    Adds a configuration option ``[processing]update_pxe_enabled`` to control
+    whether the pxe_enabled should be updated according to introspection data
+    for ports. The default value is True which is backwards compatible.
\ No newline at end of file