diff --git a/pkg/features/kube_features.go b/pkg/features/kube_features.go
index c0939e570be..896abbffb0f 100644
--- a/pkg/features/kube_features.go
+++ b/pkg/features/kube_features.go
@@ -172,6 +172,12 @@ const (
 	// Enable pods to set sysctls on a pod
 	Sysctls featuregate.Feature = "Sysctls"
 
+	// owner @smarterclayton
+	// alpha: v1.16
+	//
+	// Enable legacy behavior to vary cluster functionality on the node-role.kubernetes.io labels. On by default (legacy), will be turned off in 1.18.
+	LegacyNodeRoleBehavior featuregate.Feature = "LegacyNodeRoleBehavior"
+
 	// owner @brendandburns
 	// alpha: v1.9
 	//
@@ -570,5 +576,6 @@ var defaultKubernetesFeatureGates = map[featuregate.Feature]featuregate.FeatureS
 
 	// features that enable backwards compatibility but are scheduled to be removed
 	// ...
-	HPAScaleToZero: {Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
+	HPAScaleToZero:         {Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
+	LegacyNodeRoleBehavior: {Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
 }