diff --git a/bootstrap/templates/ansible/inventory/group_vars/master/main.yaml.j2 b/bootstrap/templates/ansible/inventory/group_vars/master/main.yaml.j2
index 0550793e..1b070403 100644
--- a/bootstrap/templates/ansible/inventory/group_vars/master/main.yaml.j2
+++ b/bootstrap/templates/ansible/inventory/group_vars/master/main.yaml.j2
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ k3s_server:
   disable-cloud-controller: true
   disable-kube-proxy: true            # Cilium uses eBPF
   write-kubeconfig-mode: "644"
+  pause-image: registry.k8s.io/pause:3.9
 {% if bootstrap_ipv6_enabled | default(false) %}
   cluster-cidr: "{% raw %}{{ cluster_cidr }},{{ cluster_cidr_v6 }}{% endraw %}"
   service-cidr: "{% raw %}{{ service_cidr }},{{ service_cidr_v6 }}{% endraw %}"
diff --git a/bootstrap/templates/ansible/inventory/group_vars/worker/main.yaml.j2 b/bootstrap/templates/ansible/inventory/group_vars/worker/main.yaml.j2
index 687cf0dc..238815c7 100644
--- a/bootstrap/templates/ansible/inventory/group_vars/worker/main.yaml.j2
+++ b/bootstrap/templates/ansible/inventory/group_vars/worker/main.yaml.j2
@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@ k3s_agent:
 {% else %}
   node-ip: "{% raw %}{{ ansible_host }}{% endraw %}"
 {% endif %}
+  pause-image: registry.k8s.io/pause:3.9