diff --git a/hieradata/common.yaml b/hieradata/common.yaml
index 47859a6a22..3fcf33b2b8 100644
--- a/hieradata/common.yaml
+++ b/hieradata/common.yaml
@@ -468,3 +468,5 @@ ipmi::networks:
 nm::conf:
   main:
     dns: "none"
+
+prometheus::node_exporter::version: "1.6.1"
diff --git a/hieradata/role/rke.yaml b/hieradata/role/rke.yaml
index 56830c3e07..7c63f1a790 100644
--- a/hieradata/role/rke.yaml
+++ b/hieradata/role/rke.yaml
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ cni::plugins::checksum: "f3a841324845ca6bf0d4091b4fc7f97e18a623172158b72fc3fdcdb
 cni::plugins::enable: ["macvlan"]
 cni::plugins::version: "1.2.0"
 profile::core::helm::version: "3.5.4"
-profile::core::kernel::devel: true
 profile::core::kernel::debuginfo: true
+profile::core::kernel::devel: true
+profile::core::common::manage_node_exporter: false
 profile::core::rke::version: "1.3.12"
 
 files:
diff --git a/site/profile/manifests/core/common.pp b/site/profile/manifests/core/common.pp
index db662e1f30..bfa7e1f25a 100644
--- a/site/profile/manifests/core/common.pp
+++ b/site/profile/manifests/core/common.pp
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@
 # @param manage_resolv_conf
 #   If `true`, manage resolv.conf
 #
+# @param manage_node_exporter
+#   If `true`, install prometheus node_exporter
+#
 class profile::core::common (
   Boolean $manage_puppet_agent = true,
   Boolean $manage_chrony = true,
@@ -53,6 +56,7 @@
   Boolean $manage_repos = true,
   Boolean $manage_irqbalance = true,
   Boolean $manage_resolv_conf = true,
+  Boolean $manage_node_exporter = true,
 ) {
   include auditd
   include accounts
@@ -117,6 +121,10 @@
     include telegraf
   }
 
+  if $manage_node_exporter {
+    include prometheus::node_exporter
+  }
+
   if $manage_firewall {
     include firewall
   }
diff --git a/spec/classes/core/common_spec.rb b/spec/classes/core/common_spec.rb
index ff13b1b67e..3db30409dd 100644
--- a/spec/classes/core/common_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/core/common_spec.rb
@@ -58,6 +58,28 @@ class { 'sssd': service_names => ['sssd'] }
           it { is_expected.to contain_class('resolv_conf') }
         end
       end
+
+      context 'with manage_node_exporter param' do
+        context 'when false' do
+          let(:params) do
+            {
+              manage_node_exporter: false,
+            }
+          end
+
+          include_examples 'no node_exporter'
+        end
+
+        context 'when true' do
+          let(:params) do
+            {
+              manage_node_exporter: true,
+            }
+          end
+
+          it { is_expected.to contain_class('prometheus::node_exporter') }
+        end
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/hosts/roles/rke_spec.rb b/spec/hosts/roles/rke_spec.rb
index 867ea5e291..b17add32c5 100644
--- a/spec/hosts/roles/rke_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/hosts/roles/rke_spec.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 require 'spec_helper'
 
-shared_examples 'generic rke' do
+shared_examples 'generic rke' do |facts:|
+  include_examples 'common', facts: facts, node_exporter: false
   include_examples 'debugutils'
   include_examples 'docker'
   include_examples 'rke profile'
@@ -47,8 +48,7 @@
 
         it { is_expected.to compile.with_all_deps }
 
-        include_examples 'common', facts: facts
-        include_examples 'generic rke'
+        include_examples 'generic rke', facts: facts
 
         it do
           is_expected.to contain_class('rke').with(
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@
 
         it { is_expected.to compile.with_all_deps }
 
-        include_examples 'common', facts: facts
-        include_examples 'generic rke'
+        include_examples 'generic rke', facts: facts
 
         it do
           is_expected.to contain_class('rke').with(
@@ -87,8 +86,7 @@
 
         it { is_expected.to compile.with_all_deps }
 
-        include_examples 'common', facts: facts
-        include_examples 'generic rke'
+        include_examples 'generic rke', facts: facts
 
         it do
           is_expected.to contain_class('rke').with(
@@ -107,8 +105,7 @@
 
         it { is_expected.to compile.with_all_deps }
 
-        include_examples 'common', facts: facts
-        include_examples 'generic rke'
+        include_examples 'generic rke', facts: facts
 
         it do
           is_expected.to contain_class('rke').with(
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index 3ee5acd333..37f099e7ae 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def node_files
 
 # XXX The network param is a kludge until the el8 dnscache nodes are converted
 # to NM.
-shared_examples 'common' do |facts:, no_auth: false, chrony: true, network: true|
+shared_examples 'common' do |facts:, no_auth: false, chrony: true, network: true, node_exporter: true|
   include_examples 'bash_completion', facts: facts
   include_examples 'convenience'
   include_examples 'telegraf'
@@ -269,6 +269,12 @@ def node_files
     end
   end
 
+  if node_exporter
+    include_examples 'node_exporter'
+  else
+    include_examples 'no node_exporter'
+  end
+
   if facts[:os]['family'] == 'RedHat'
     it { is_expected.to contain_class('epel') }
     it { is_expected.to contain_class('yum::plugin::versionlock').with_clean(true) }
diff --git a/spec/support/spec/prometheus.rb b/spec/support/spec/prometheus.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8b90de6b4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/spec/prometheus.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+shared_examples 'node_exporter' do
+  it { is_expected.to contain_class('prometheus::node_exporter').with_version('1.6.1') }
+end
+
+shared_examples 'no node_exporter' do
+  it { is_expected.not_to contain_class('prometheus::node_exporter') }
+end