diff --git a/ansible/flavor_registration.yml b/ansible/flavor_registration.yml
index f7a7314..8ef4167 100644
--- a/ansible/flavor_registration.yml
+++ b/ansible/flavor_registration.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 - hosts: localhost
   tasks:
-    - name: Register Nova flavors
+    - name: Configure Nova flavors
       include_role:
         name: nova-flavors
       vars:
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@
         flavors_python_upper_constraints_url: >-
           {{ python_upper_constraints_url }}
         flavors: "{{ nova_flavors }}"
+        flavors_state: "{{ 'absent' if cmd == 'teardown' else 'present' }}"
diff --git a/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/README.md b/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/README.md
index 88cb76e..6fda311 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/README.md
+++ b/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 Nova Flavors
 ============
 
-This role creates flavors in Nova.
+This role manages flavors in Nova. If `flavors_state` is `present`, it will
+ensure the specified flavors eexist; if it is `absent`, it will ensure they do
+not.
 
 Requirements
 ------------
@@ -19,3 +21,5 @@ Role Variables
   OpenStack clients.
 - `flavors_python_upper_constraints_url`: The URL of the upper constraints file
   to pass to pip when installing Python packages.
+- `flavors_state`: Whether the specified flavors should be `present` or
+ `absent`. Default is `present`.
diff --git a/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/defaults/main.yml b/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/defaults/main.yml
index 7c6aeb5..1c27128 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/defaults/main.yml
@@ -23,3 +23,5 @@ flavors_virtualenv_path:
 # The URL of the upper constraints file to pass to pip when installing Python
 # packages.
 flavors_python_upper_constraints_url:
+# Whether the specified flavors should be `present` or `absent`.
+flavors_state: present
diff --git a/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/tasks/main.yml b/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/tasks/main.yml
index 5dc4f5f..992ac7f 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/nova-flavors/tasks/main.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
           -c {{ flavors_python_upper_constraints_url }}
         virtualenv: "{{ flavors_virtualenv_path }}"
 
-    - name: Register Nova flavors
+    - name: Configure Nova flavors
       os_nova_flavor:
         auth_type: password
         name: "{{ item.name | default(item.resource_class) }}"
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
                | combine(forbidden_traits)
                | combine(item.custom_specs | default({}))
           }}
+        state: "{{ flavors_state }}"
       vars:
         hw_specs:
           "resources:DISK_GB": 0