diff --git a/roles/container-engine/cri-o/defaults/main.yml b/roles/container-engine/cri-o/defaults/main.yml
index 84b7da88aaf..ce1bdd29bac 100644
--- a/roles/container-engine/cri-o/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/container-engine/cri-o/defaults/main.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ crio_runc_path: "/usr/bin/runc"
 crio_seccomp_profile: ""
 crio_selinux: "{{ (preinstall_selinux_state == 'enforcing')|lower }}"
 crio_signature_policy: "{% if ansible_os_family == 'ClearLinux' %}/usr/share/defaults/crio/policy.json{% endif %}"
-crio_storage_driver: "overlay2"
+
+# Override system default for storage driver
+# crio_storage_driver: "overlay"
+
 crio_stream_port: "10010"
 
 crio_required_version: "{{ kube_version | regex_replace('^v(?P<major>\\d+).(?P<minor>\\d+).(?P<patch>\\d+)$', '\\g<major>.\\g<minor>') }}"
diff --git a/roles/container-engine/cri-o/templates/crio.conf.j2 b/roles/container-engine/cri-o/templates/crio.conf.j2
index 999cebb1d5e..fd85e5eb46a 100644
--- a/roles/container-engine/cri-o/templates/crio.conf.j2
+++ b/roles/container-engine/cri-o/templates/crio.conf.j2
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@
 
 # Storage driver used to manage the storage of images and containers. Please
 # refer to containers-storage.conf(5) to see all available storage drivers.
+{% if crio_storage_driver is defined %}
 storage_driver = "{{ crio_storage_driver }}"
+{% endif %}
 
 # List to pass options to the storage driver. Please refer to
 # containers-storage.conf(5) to see all available storage options.