diff --git a/ci/environments/multinode-containers.yaml b/ci/environments/multinode-containers.yaml
index f050d9a21d..e5cc67db5c 100644
--- a/ci/environments/multinode-containers.yaml
+++ b/ci/environments/multinode-containers.yaml
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ parameter_defaults:
     #http://docs.ceph.com/docs/jewel/rados/configuration/filesystem-recommendations/
     ceph::profile::params::osd_max_object_name_len: 256
     ceph::profile::params::osd_max_object_namespace_len: 64
+    #NOTE(gfidente): necessary when deploying a single OSD
+    ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pg_num: 32
+    ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pgp_num: 32
   SwiftCeilometerPipelineEnabled: False
   Debug: True
   NotificationDriver: 'noop'
diff --git a/ci/environments/multinode.yaml b/ci/environments/multinode.yaml
index eeeefc074d..b939e37789 100644
--- a/ci/environments/multinode.yaml
+++ b/ci/environments/multinode.yaml
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ parameter_defaults:
     #http://docs.ceph.com/docs/jewel/rados/configuration/filesystem-recommendations/
     ceph::profile::params::osd_max_object_name_len: 256
     ceph::profile::params::osd_max_object_namespace_len: 64
+    #NOTE(gfidente): necessary when deploying a single OSD
+    ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pg_num: 32
+    ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pgp_num: 32
   SwiftCeilometerPipelineEnabled: False
   Debug: True
   NotificationDriver: 'noop'
diff --git a/ci/environments/scenario001-multinode.yaml b/ci/environments/scenario001-multinode.yaml
index a9fbdfb700..177b73c061 100644
--- a/ci/environments/scenario001-multinode.yaml
+++ b/ci/environments/scenario001-multinode.yaml
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ parameter_defaults:
   ExtraConfig:
     ceph::profile::params::osd_max_object_name_len: 256
     ceph::profile::params::osd_max_object_namespace_len: 64
+    #NOTE(gfidente): necessary when deploying a single OSD
+    ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pg_num: 32
+    ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pgp_num: 32
   #NOTE: These ID's and keys should be regenerated for
   # a production deployment. What is here is suitable for
   # developer and CI testing only.
diff --git a/ci/environments/scenario004-multinode-containers.yaml b/ci/environments/scenario004-multinode-containers.yaml
index e2be75cc20..07ef17aa30 100644
--- a/ci/environments/scenario004-multinode-containers.yaml
+++ b/ci/environments/scenario004-multinode-containers.yaml
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ parameter_defaults:
   ExtraConfig:
     ceph::profile::params::osd_max_object_name_len: 256
     ceph::profile::params::osd_max_object_namespace_len: 64
+    #NOTE(gfidente): necessary when deploying a single OSD
+    ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pg_num: 32
+    ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pgp_num: 32
   #NOTE: These ID's and keys should be regenerated for
   # a production deployment. What is here is suitable for
   # developer and CI testing only.
diff --git a/ci/environments/scenario004-multinode.yaml b/ci/environments/scenario004-multinode.yaml
index a81f05e197..0dfeb63a7e 100644
--- a/ci/environments/scenario004-multinode.yaml
+++ b/ci/environments/scenario004-multinode.yaml
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ parameter_defaults:
   ExtraConfig:
     ceph::profile::params::osd_max_object_name_len: 256
     ceph::profile::params::osd_max_object_namespace_len: 64
+    #NOTE(gfidente): necessary when deploying a single OSD
+    ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pg_num: 32
+    ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pgp_num: 32
   #NOTE: These ID's and keys should be regenerated for
   # a production deployment. What is here is suitable for
   # developer and CI testing only.
diff --git a/puppet/services/ceph-mon.yaml b/puppet/services/ceph-mon.yaml
index 4fe6e908f4..5783d18c50 100644
--- a/puppet/services/ceph-mon.yaml
+++ b/puppet/services/ceph-mon.yaml
@@ -109,8 +109,8 @@ outputs:
           - get_attr: [CephBase, role_data, config_settings]
           - ceph::profile::params::ms_bind_ipv6: {get_param: CephIPv6}
             ceph::profile::params::mon_key: {get_param: CephMonKey}
-            ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pg_num: 32
-            ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pgp_num: 32
+            ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pg_num: 128
+            ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_pgp_num: 128
             ceph::profile::params::osd_pool_default_size: {get_param: CephPoolDefaultSize}
             # repeat returns items in a list, so we need to map_merge twice
             tripleo::profile::base::ceph::mon::ceph_pools: