diff --git a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/cluster.go b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/cluster.go
index 30c53823166e..542023702376 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/cluster.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/cluster.go
@@ -2359,6 +2359,12 @@ func (c *clusterImpl) MakeNodes(opts ...option.Option) string {
 		if s, ok := o.(nodeSelector); ok {
 			r = s.Merge(r)
 		}
+		if _, ok := o.(*option.NoNodes); ok {
+			return ""
+		}
+		if _, ok := o.(option.NoNodes); ok {
+			return ""
+		}
 	}
 	return c.name + r.String()
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/monitor.go b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/monitor.go
index 758205337714..8d3095c4d0dd 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/monitor.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/monitor.go
@@ -180,6 +180,10 @@ func (m *monitorImpl) wait() error {
 			wg.Done()
 		}()
 
+		if m.nodes == "" {
+			<-m.ctx.Done()
+			return
+		}
 		messagesChannel, err := roachprod.Monitor(m.ctx, m.l, m.nodes, install.MonitorOpts{})
 		if err != nil {
 			setErr(errors.Wrap(err, "monitor command failure"))
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/option/node_list_option.go b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/option/node_list_option.go
index 1e5a59775c40..6881ffffb802 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/option/node_list_option.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/option/node_list_option.go
@@ -113,3 +113,9 @@ func (n NodeListOption) String() string {
 	}
 	return buf.String()
 }
+
+// NoNodes is an option that explicitly deselects all nodes.
+type NoNodes struct{}
+
+// Option implements option.Option.
+func (n NoNodes) Option() {}