diff --git a/ironic/api/controllers/v1/node.py b/ironic/api/controllers/v1/node.py
index a442c95b3d..312161a13f 100644
--- a/ironic/api/controllers/v1/node.py
+++ b/ironic/api/controllers/v1/node.py
@@ -1643,6 +1643,9 @@ class NodesController(rest.RestController):
             self._check_names_acceptable([node.name], error_msg)
         node.provision_state = api_utils.initial_node_provision_state()
 
+        if not node.resource_class:
+            node.resource_class = CONF.default_resource_class
+
         new_node = objects.Node(context, **node.as_dict())
         notify.emit_start_notification(context, new_node, 'create',
                                        chassis_uuid=node.chassis_uuid)
diff --git a/ironic/conf/default.py b/ironic/conf/default.py
index 9862d4ce55..23fc187931 100644
--- a/ironic/conf/default.py
+++ b/ironic/conf/default.py
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ api_opts = [
                 default=False,
                 help=_('Enable pecan debug mode. WARNING: this is insecure '
                        'and should not be used in a production environment.')),
+    cfg.StrOpt('default_resource_class',
+               help=_('Resource class to use for new nodes when no resource '
+                      'class is provided in the creation request.')),
 ]
 
 driver_opts = [
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/api/controllers/v1/test_node.py b/ironic/tests/unit/api/controllers/v1/test_node.py
index 9d1985be0e..c183c5d306 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/api/controllers/v1/test_node.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/api/controllers/v1/test_node.py
@@ -2267,6 +2267,37 @@ class TestPost(test_api_base.BaseApiTest):
         self.assertEqual(ndict['uuid'], result['uuid'])
         self.assertEqual(states.ENROLL, result['provision_state'])
 
+    def test_create_node_no_default_resource_class(self):
+        ndict = test_api_utils.post_get_test_node()
+        self.post_json('/nodes', ndict)
+
+        # newer version is needed to see the resource_class field
+        result = self.get_json('/nodes/%s' % ndict['uuid'],
+                               headers={api_base.Version.string: "1.21"})
+        self.assertIsNone(result['resource_class'])
+
+    def test_create_node_with_default_resource_class(self):
+        self.config(default_resource_class='class1')
+
+        ndict = test_api_utils.post_get_test_node()
+        self.post_json('/nodes', ndict)
+
+        # newer version is needed to see the resource_class field
+        result = self.get_json('/nodes/%s' % ndict['uuid'],
+                               headers={api_base.Version.string: "1.21"})
+        self.assertEqual('class1', result['resource_class'])
+
+    def test_create_node_explicit_resource_class(self):
+        self.config(default_resource_class='class1')
+
+        ndict = test_api_utils.post_get_test_node(resource_class='class2')
+        self.post_json('/nodes', ndict,
+                       headers={api_base.Version.string: "1.21"})
+
+        result = self.get_json('/nodes/%s' % ndict['uuid'],
+                               headers={api_base.Version.string: "1.21"})
+        self.assertEqual('class2', result['resource_class'])
+
     def test_create_node_doesnt_contain_id(self):
         # FIXME(comstud): I'd like to make this test not use the
         # dbapi, however, no matter what I do when trying to mock
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/default-resource-class-e11bacfb01d6841b.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/default-resource-class-e11bacfb01d6841b.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..92dd0df648
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/default-resource-class-e11bacfb01d6841b.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    Adds new configuration option ``[DEFAULT]default_resource_class`` that
+    specifies the resource class to use for new nodes when no resource class
+    is provided in the node creation request.