diff --git a/upup/models/cloudup/resources/addons/networking.flannel/k8s-1.12.yaml.template b/upup/models/cloudup/resources/addons/networking.flannel/k8s-1.12.yaml.template
index 12d1dab798705..2d9daad7c5adb 100644
--- a/upup/models/cloudup/resources/addons/networking.flannel/k8s-1.12.yaml.template
+++ b/upup/models/cloudup/resources/addons/networking.flannel/k8s-1.12.yaml.template
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ spec:
         app: flannel
         role.kubernetes.io/networking: "1"
     spec:
+      priorityClassName: system-node-critical
       hostNetwork: true
       nodeSelector:
         beta.kubernetes.io/arch: amd64