diff --git a/internal/config/k9s.go b/internal/config/k9s.go
index 37bb6044..4afbb2b1 100644
--- a/internal/config/k9s.go
+++ b/internal/config/k9s.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ type K9s struct {
 	Clusters            map[string]*Cluster `yaml:"clusters,omitempty"`
 	Thresholds          Threshold           `yaml:"thresholds"`
 	ScreenDumpDir       string              `yaml:"screenDumpDir"`
+	DisablePodCounting  bool                `yaml:"disablePodCounting"`
 	manualRefreshRate   int
 	manualHeadless      *bool
 	manualLogoless      *bool
diff --git a/internal/dao/node.go b/internal/dao/node.go
index 8f9cb0b5..9504f110 100644
--- a/internal/dao/node.go
+++ b/internal/dao/node.go
@@ -155,6 +155,8 @@ func (n *Node) List(ctx context.Context, ns string) ([]runtime.Object, error) {
 		nmx, _ = client.DialMetrics(n.Client()).FetchNodesMetricsMap(ctx)
 	}
 
+	shouldCountPods, _ := ctx.Value(internal.KeyPodCounting).(bool)
+
 	res := make([]runtime.Object, 0, len(oo))
 	for _, o := range oo {
 		u, ok := o.(*unstructured.Unstructured)
@@ -164,9 +166,12 @@ func (n *Node) List(ctx context.Context, ns string) ([]runtime.Object, error) {
 
 		fqn := extractFQN(o)
 		_, name := client.Namespaced(fqn)
-		podCount, err := n.CountPods(name)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Error().Err(err).Msgf("unable to get pods count for %s", name)
+		podCount := -1
+		if shouldCountPods {
+			podCount, err = n.CountPods(name)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Error().Err(err).Msgf("unable to get pods count for %s", name)
+			}
 		}
 		res = append(res, &render.NodeWithMetrics{
 			Raw:      u,
diff --git a/internal/keys.go b/internal/keys.go
index 522d0f9b..f184b49d 100644
--- a/internal/keys.go
+++ b/internal/keys.go
@@ -30,4 +30,5 @@ const (
 	KeyWithMetrics ContextKey = "withMetrics"
 	KeyViewConfig  ContextKey = "viewConfig"
 	KeyWait        ContextKey = "wait"
+	KeyPodCounting ContextKey = "podCounting"
 )
diff --git a/internal/view/node.go b/internal/view/node.go
index 63011832..d70b2b51 100644
--- a/internal/view/node.go
+++ b/internal/view/node.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/derailed/k9s/internal"
 	"github.com/derailed/k9s/internal/client"
 	"github.com/derailed/k9s/internal/dao"
 	"github.com/derailed/k9s/internal/ui"
@@ -26,10 +27,15 @@ func NewNode(gvr client.GVR) ResourceViewer {
 	}
 	n.AddBindKeysFn(n.bindKeys)
 	n.GetTable().SetEnterFn(n.showPods)
+	n.SetContextFn(n.nodeContext)
 
 	return &n
 }
 
+func (n *Node) nodeContext(ctx context.Context) context.Context {
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, internal.KeyPodCounting, !n.App().Config.K9s.DisablePodCounting)
+}
+
 func (n *Node) bindDangerousKeys(aa ui.KeyActions) {
 	aa.Add(ui.KeyActions{
 		ui.KeyC: ui.NewKeyAction("Cordon", n.toggleCordonCmd(true), true),