diff --git a/manifests/compute/libvirt.pp b/manifests/compute/libvirt.pp
index 1eda96664..caf8353fc 100644
--- a/manifests/compute/libvirt.pp
+++ b/manifests/compute/libvirt.pp
@@ -101,6 +101,11 @@
 #   (optional) Compute driver.
 #   Defaults to 'libvirt.LibvirtDriver'
 #
+# [*preallocate_images*]
+#   (optional) The image preallocation mode to use.
+#   Valid values are 'none' or 'space'.
+#   Defaults to $::os_service_default
+#
 # [*manage_libvirt_services*]
 #   (optional) Whether or not deploy Libvirt services.
 #   In the case of micro-services, set it to False and use
@@ -128,6 +133,7 @@ class nova::compute::libvirt (
   $virtlock_service_name                      = $::nova::params::virtlock_service_name,
   $virtlog_service_name                       = $::nova::params::virtlog_service_name,
   $compute_driver                             = 'libvirt.LibvirtDriver',
+  $preallocate_images                         = $::os_service_default,
   $manage_libvirt_services                    = true,
 ) inherits nova::params {
 
@@ -186,15 +192,16 @@ class nova::compute::libvirt (
   }
 
   nova_config {
-    'DEFAULT/compute_driver':   value => $compute_driver;
-    'vnc/vncserver_listen':     value => $vncserver_listen;
-    'libvirt/virt_type':        value => $libvirt_virt_type;
-    'libvirt/cpu_mode':         value => $libvirt_cpu_mode_real;
-    'libvirt/inject_password':  value => $libvirt_inject_password;
-    'libvirt/inject_key':       value => $libvirt_inject_key;
-    'libvirt/inject_partition': value => $libvirt_inject_partition;
-    'libvirt/hw_disk_discard':  value => $libvirt_hw_disk_discard;
-    'libvirt/hw_machine_type':  value => $libvirt_hw_machine_type;
+    'DEFAULT/compute_driver':     value => $compute_driver;
+    'DEFAULT/preallocate_images': value => $preallocate_images;
+    'vnc/vncserver_listen':       value => $vncserver_listen;
+    'libvirt/virt_type':          value => $libvirt_virt_type;
+    'libvirt/cpu_mode':           value => $libvirt_cpu_mode_real;
+    'libvirt/inject_password':    value => $libvirt_inject_password;
+    'libvirt/inject_key':         value => $libvirt_inject_key;
+    'libvirt/inject_partition':   value => $libvirt_inject_partition;
+    'libvirt/hw_disk_discard':    value => $libvirt_hw_disk_discard;
+    'libvirt/hw_machine_type':    value => $libvirt_hw_machine_type;
   }
 
   # cpu_model param is only valid if cpu_mode=custom
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/add_preallocate_images_option-24711e88218b09ca.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/add_preallocate_images_option-24711e88218b09ca.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..13a23edc6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/add_preallocate_images_option-24711e88218b09ca.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+features:
+  - Added preallocate_images option which allows storage for instance images
+    to be allocated up front when the instance is initially provisioned.
+    This should significantly improve performance on writes to new blocks.
diff --git a/spec/classes/nova_compute_libvirt_spec.rb b/spec/classes/nova_compute_libvirt_spec.rb
index 098bc0457..3b18bd780 100644
--- a/spec/classes/nova_compute_libvirt_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/nova_compute_libvirt_spec.rb
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ describe 'nova::compute::libvirt' do
       }
 
       it { is_expected.to contain_nova_config('DEFAULT/compute_driver').with_value('libvirt.LibvirtDriver')}
+      it { is_expected.to contain_nova_config('DEFAULT/preallocate_images').with_value('<SERVICE DEFAULT>')}
       it { is_expected.to contain_nova_config('libvirt/virt_type').with_value('kvm')}
       it { is_expected.to contain_nova_config('libvirt/cpu_mode').with_value('host-model')}
       it { is_expected.to contain_nova_config('libvirt/cpu_model').with_ensure('absent')}
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ describe 'nova::compute::libvirt' do
           :virtlock_service_name                      => 'virtlock',
           :virtlog_service_name                       => 'virtlog',
           :compute_driver                             => 'libvirt.FoobarDriver',
+          :preallocate_images                         => 'space',
         }
       end
 
@@ -84,6 +86,7 @@ describe 'nova::compute::libvirt' do
         :ensure => 'latest'
       ) }
       it { is_expected.to contain_nova_config('DEFAULT/compute_driver').with_value('libvirt.FoobarDriver')}
+      it { is_expected.to contain_nova_config('DEFAULT/preallocate_images').with_value('space')}
       it { is_expected.to contain_nova_config('libvirt/virt_type').with_value('qemu')}
       it { is_expected.to contain_nova_config('libvirt/cpu_mode').with_value('host-passthrough')}
       it { is_expected.to contain_nova_config('libvirt/cpu_model').with_ensure('absent')}