diff --git a/etc/tempest.conf.sample b/etc/tempest.conf.sample
index 50dc00c0e2..a184c7671d 100644
--- a/etc/tempest.conf.sample
+++ b/etc/tempest.conf.sample
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@
 # admin credentials are known. (boolean value)
 #allow_tenant_isolation=false
 
-# Valid secondary image reference to be used in tests. (string
+# Valid primary image reference to be used in tests. (string
 # value)
 #image_ref={$IMAGE_ID}
 
@@ -978,6 +978,10 @@
 # value)
 #disk_format=raw
 
+# Default size in GB for volumes created by volumes tests
+# (integer value)
+#volume_size=1
+
 
 [volume-feature-enabled]
 
diff --git a/tempest/api/volume/test_volumes_get.py b/tempest/api/volume/test_volumes_get.py
index be5d76bbbe..58da440ea6 100644
--- a/tempest/api/volume/test_volumes_get.py
+++ b/tempest/api/volume/test_volumes_get.py
@@ -51,8 +51,7 @@ class VolumesGetTest(base.BaseVolumeV1Test):
         v_name = data_utils.rand_name('Volume')
         metadata = {'Type': 'Test'}
         # Create a volume
-        resp, volume = self.client.create_volume(size=1,
-                                                 display_name=v_name,
+        resp, volume = self.client.create_volume(display_name=v_name,
                                                  metadata=metadata,
                                                  **kwargs)
         self.assertEqual(200, resp.status)
diff --git a/tempest/config.py b/tempest/config.py
index 723504c544..c0ab3237e0 100644
--- a/tempest/config.py
+++ b/tempest/config.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ ComputeGroup = [
                      "OpenStack Identity API admin credentials are known."),
     cfg.StrOpt('image_ref',
                default="{$IMAGE_ID}",
-               help="Valid secondary image reference to be used in tests."),
+               help="Valid primary image reference to be used in tests."),
     cfg.StrOpt('image_ref_alt',
                default="{$IMAGE_ID_ALT}",
                help="Valid secondary image reference to be used in tests."),
@@ -441,6 +441,9 @@ VolumeGroup = [
     cfg.StrOpt('disk_format',
                default='raw',
                help='Disk format to use when copying a volume to image'),
+    cfg.IntOpt('volume_size',
+               default=1,
+               help='Default size in GB for volumes created by volumes tests'),
 ]
 
 volume_feature_group = cfg.OptGroup(name='volume-feature-enabled',
diff --git a/tempest/services/volume/json/volumes_client.py b/tempest/services/volume/json/volumes_client.py
index e4d2e8dbb9..b55a0373e4 100644
--- a/tempest/services/volume/json/volumes_client.py
+++ b/tempest/services/volume/json/volumes_client.py
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ class VolumesClientJSON(rest_client.RestClient):
         body = json.loads(body)
         return resp, body['volume']
 
-    def create_volume(self, size, **kwargs):
+    def create_volume(self, size=None, **kwargs):
         """
         Creates a new Volume.
-        size(Required): Size of volume in GB.
+        size: Size of volume in GB.
         Following optional keyword arguments are accepted:
         display_name: Optional Volume Name.
         metadata: A dictionary of values to be used as metadata.
@@ -78,6 +78,10 @@ class VolumesClientJSON(rest_client.RestClient):
         snapshot_id: When specified the volume is created from this snapshot
         imageRef: When specified the volume is created from this image
         """
+        # for bug #1293885:
+        # If no size specified, read volume size from CONF
+        if size is None:
+            size = CONF.volume.volume_size
         post_body = {'size': size}
         post_body.update(kwargs)
         post_body = json.dumps({'volume': post_body})
diff --git a/tempest/services/volume/v2/json/volumes_client.py b/tempest/services/volume/v2/json/volumes_client.py
index 5bfa75fc1d..df20a2ac8a 100644
--- a/tempest/services/volume/v2/json/volumes_client.py
+++ b/tempest/services/volume/v2/json/volumes_client.py
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ class VolumesV2ClientJSON(rest_client.RestClient):
         body = json.loads(body)
         return resp, body['volume']
 
-    def create_volume(self, size, **kwargs):
+    def create_volume(self, size=None, **kwargs):
         """
         Creates a new Volume.
-        size(Required): Size of volume in GB.
+        size: Size of volume in GB.
         Following optional keyword arguments are accepted:
         name: Optional Volume Name.
         metadata: A dictionary of values to be used as metadata.
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ class VolumesV2ClientJSON(rest_client.RestClient):
         snapshot_id: When specified the volume is created from this snapshot
         imageRef: When specified the volume is created from this image
         """
+        # for bug #1293885:
+        # If no size specified, read volume size from CONF
+        if size is None:
+            size = CONF.volume.volume_size
         post_body = {'size': size}
         post_body.update(kwargs)
         post_body = json.dumps({'volume': post_body})
diff --git a/tempest/services/volume/v2/xml/volumes_client.py b/tempest/services/volume/v2/xml/volumes_client.py
index e735a657e4..1fdaf19b0f 100644
--- a/tempest/services/volume/v2/xml/volumes_client.py
+++ b/tempest/services/volume/v2/xml/volumes_client.py
@@ -117,10 +117,10 @@ class VolumesV2ClientXML(rest_client.RestClient):
         body = self._check_if_bootable(body)
         return resp, body
 
-    def create_volume(self, size, **kwargs):
+    def create_volume(self, size=None, **kwargs):
         """Creates a new Volume.
 
-        :param size: Size of volume in GB. (Required)
+        :param size: Size of volume in GB.
         :param name: Optional Volume Name.
         :param metadata: An optional dictionary of values for metadata.
         :param volume_type: Optional Name of volume_type for the volume
@@ -129,6 +129,10 @@ class VolumesV2ClientXML(rest_client.RestClient):
         :param imageRef: When specified the volume is created from this
                          image
         """
+        # for bug #1293885:
+        # If no size specified, read volume size from CONF
+        if size is None:
+            size = CONF.volume.volume_size
         # NOTE(afazekas): it should use a volume namespace
         volume = common.Element("volume", xmlns=common.XMLNS_11, size=size)
 
diff --git a/tempest/services/volume/xml/volumes_client.py b/tempest/services/volume/xml/volumes_client.py
index 6866dad9e8..65bc321be8 100644
--- a/tempest/services/volume/xml/volumes_client.py
+++ b/tempest/services/volume/xml/volumes_client.py
@@ -118,10 +118,10 @@ class VolumesClientXML(rest_client.RestClient):
         body = self._check_if_bootable(body)
         return resp, body
 
-    def create_volume(self, size, **kwargs):
+    def create_volume(self, size=None, **kwargs):
         """Creates a new Volume.
 
-        :param size: Size of volume in GB. (Required)
+        :param size: Size of volume in GB.
         :param display_name: Optional Volume Name.
         :param metadata: An optional dictionary of values for metadata.
         :param volume_type: Optional Name of volume_type for the volume
@@ -130,6 +130,10 @@ class VolumesClientXML(rest_client.RestClient):
         :param imageRef: When specified the volume is created from this
                          image
         """
+        # for bug #1293885:
+        # If no size specified, read volume size from CONF
+        if size is None:
+            size = CONF.volume.volume_size
         # NOTE(afazekas): it should use a volume namespace
         volume = common.Element("volume", xmlns=common.XMLNS_11, size=size)