diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index 9530a353..ee171011 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -375,6 +375,7 @@ var expectedConfig = `k9s:
       critical: 90
       warn: 70
   screenDumpDir: /tmp
+  disablePodCounting: false
 `
 
 var resetConfig = `k9s:
@@ -428,4 +429,5 @@ var resetConfig = `k9s:
       critical: 90
       warn: 70
   screenDumpDir: /tmp
+  disablePodCounting: false
 `
diff --git a/internal/config/testdata/k9s.yml b/internal/config/testdata/k9s.yml
index b9116b27..e98a2180 100644
--- a/internal/config/testdata/k9s.yml
+++ b/internal/config/testdata/k9s.yml
@@ -31,3 +31,4 @@ k9s:
       view:
         active: po
   screenDumpDir: /tmp
+  disablePodCounting: false
diff --git a/internal/render/node.go b/internal/render/node.go
index b5331a6f..11e6d398 100644
--- a/internal/render/node.go
+++ b/internal/render/node.go
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@ func (n Node) Render(o interface{}, ns string, r *Row) error {
 	nodeRoles(&no, roles)
 	sort.Sort(roles)
 
+	podCount := strconv.Itoa(oo.PodCount)
+	if pc := oo.PodCount; pc == -1 {
+		podCount = NAValue
+	}
 	r.ID = client.FQN("", na)
 	r.Fields = Fields{
 		no.Name,
@@ -86,7 +90,7 @@ func (n Node) Render(o interface{}, ns string, r *Row) error {
 		no.Status.NodeInfo.KernelVersion,
 		iIP,
 		eIP,
-		strconv.Itoa(oo.PodCount),
+		podCount,
 		toMc(c.cpu),
 		toMi(c.mem),
 		client.ToPercentageStr(c.cpu, a.cpu),