diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/nova_cert_default-90eb7c1e3cde624a.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/nova_cert_default-90eb7c1e3cde624a.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfe97c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/nova_cert_default-90eb7c1e3cde624a.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+
+  - The ``nova_cert`` option default is changed to ``False``. The nova
+    certification management APIs were a hold over from ec2, and are
+    not used by any other parts of nova. They are deprecated for
+    removal in nova after the newton release. This makes false a more
+    sensible default going forward.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tempest/config.py b/tempest/config.py
index 6bae021..daff494 100644
--- a/tempest/config.py
+++ b/tempest/config.py
@@ -379,8 +379,9 @@
                 help='Does the test environment support creating snapshot '
                      'images of running instances?'),
     cfg.BoolOpt('nova_cert',
-                default=True,
-                help='Does the test environment have the nova cert running?'),
+                default=False,
+                help='Does the test environment have the nova cert running?',
+                deprecated_for_removal=True),
     cfg.BoolOpt('personality',
                 default=False,
                 help='Does the test environment support server personality'),