diff --git a/deploy-guide/source/targethosts-prepare.rst b/deploy-guide/source/targethosts-prepare.rst
index 78b9b2c92b..a7864ee65f 100644
--- a/deploy-guide/source/targethosts-prepare.rst
+++ b/deploy-guide/source/targethosts-prepare.rst
@@ -119,6 +119,13 @@ Configure CentOS
       # systemctl enable ntpd.service
       # systemctl start ntpd.service
 
+#. (Optional) Reduce the kernel log level by changing the printk
+   value in your sysctls:
+
+   .. code-block:: shell-session
+
+      # echo "kernel.printk='4 1 7 4'" >> /etc/sysctl.conf
+
 
 #. Reboot the host to activate the changes and use the new kernel.
 
diff --git a/tests/roles/bootstrap-host/templates/user_variables.aio.yml.j2 b/tests/roles/bootstrap-host/templates/user_variables.aio.yml.j2
index 0f5d48700e..75bd997910 100644
--- a/tests/roles/bootstrap-host/templates/user_variables.aio.yml.j2
+++ b/tests/roles/bootstrap-host/templates/user_variables.aio.yml.j2
@@ -188,6 +188,12 @@ repo_build_pip_extra_indexes:
  - "{{ _pypi_wheel_mirror.stdout_lines[1] }}"
 {% endif %}
 
+# Set all the distros to the same value: a "quiet" print
+# of kernel log messages.
+openstack_user_kernel_options:
+  - key: 'kernel.printk'
+    value: '4 1 7 4'
+
 {% raw %}
 # We now have access to the branchname in testing variables.
 findgitreview: