diff --git a/cmd/nfd-master/main.go b/cmd/nfd-master/main.go
index 07c41c50f0..48d509389b 100644
--- a/cmd/nfd-master/main.go
+++ b/cmd/nfd-master/main.go
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ func initFlags(flagset *flag.FlagSet) *master.Args {
 			"NB: the label namespace is omitted i.e. the filter is only applied to the name part after '/'.")
 	flagset.BoolVar(&args.NoPublish, "no-publish", false,
 		"Do not publish feature labels")
+	flagset.BoolVar(&args.NoTaint, "no-taint", true,
+		"Do not set node taint defined on the NodeFeatureRule CR")
 	flagset.BoolVar(&args.FeatureRulesController, "featurerules-controller", true,
 		"Enable controller for NodeFeatureRule objects. Generates node labels based on the rules in these CRs.")
 	flagset.IntVar(&args.Port, "port", 8080,
diff --git a/docs/advanced/customization-guide.md b/docs/advanced/customization-guide.md
index 959151cf39..46e15f18da 100644
--- a/docs/advanced/customization-guide.md
+++ b/docs/advanced/customization-guide.md
@@ -30,8 +30,11 @@ labeling:
 ## NodeFeatureRule custom resource
 
 `NodeFeatureRule` objects provide an easy way to create vendor or application
-specific labels and taints (disabled by default). It uses a flexible rule-based
-mechanism for creating labels/taints based on node feature.
+specific labels and taints. It uses a flexible rule-based mechanism for creating
+labels/taints based on node features. Tainting feature is disabled by default and
+to enable it set `--no-taint` flag to `false`. If the feature gate `--no-taint`
+is `true` (i.e. disabled), taints defined in the NodeFeatureRule CRD have no effect
+and will be ignored by the NFD controller.
 
 ### A NodeFeatureRule example
 
@@ -47,7 +50,7 @@ spec:
     - name: "my sample rule"
       labels:
         "my-sample-feature": "true"
-# Using tainting feature requires the feature gate (--allowTainting) to be enabled
+# Using tainting feature requires the feature gate (--no-taint) to be enabled (set to false)
       taints:
         - effect: PreferNoSchedule
           key: bar
@@ -1044,4 +1047,3 @@ __In the example above:__
   matches the `node-datacenter1-rack.*-server.*` pattern, e.g.
   `node-datacenter1-rack2-server42`
 
-
diff --git a/pkg/nfd-master/nfd-master.go b/pkg/nfd-master/nfd-master.go
index 16918c7406..84e31fdb57 100644
--- a/pkg/nfd-master/nfd-master.go
+++ b/pkg/nfd-master/nfd-master.go
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ type Args struct {
 	LabelWhiteList         utils.RegexpVal
 	FeatureRulesController bool
 	NoPublish              bool
+	NoTaint                bool
 	Port                   int
 	Prune                  bool
 	VerifyNodeName         bool
@@ -445,14 +446,15 @@ func (m *nfdMaster) SetLabels(c context.Context, r *pb.SetLabelsRequest) (*pb.Se
 			klog.Errorf("failed to advertise labels: %v", err)
 			return &pb.SetLabelsReply{}, err
 		}
-		// Set NodeFeatureRule provided taints
-		if mustTaint {
-			labelReply, err := m.SetTaints(c, r)
-			if err != nil {
-				return labelReply, err
+		if !m.args.NoTaint {
+			// Set NodeFeatureRule provided taints
+			if mustTaint {
+				labelReply, err := m.SetTaints(c, r)
+				if err != nil {
+					return labelReply, err
+				}
 			}
 		}
-
 	}
 	return &pb.SetLabelsReply{}, nil
 }