diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/humiocluster_types.go b/api/v1alpha1/humiocluster_types.go
index 85bc1ff6..8d1a0ece 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/humiocluster_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/humiocluster_types.go
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ type HumioNodeSpec struct {
 	Image string `json:"image,omitempty"`
 
 	// NodeCount is the desired number of humio cluster nodes
+	//+kubebuilder:default=0
 	NodeCount int `json:"nodeCount,omitempty"`
 
 	// DataVolumePersistentVolumeClaimSpecTemplate is the PersistentVolumeClaimSpec that will be used with for the humio data volume. This conflicts with DataVolumeSource.
diff --git a/charts/humio-operator/crds/core.humio.com_humioclusters.yaml b/charts/humio-operator/crds/core.humio.com_humioclusters.yaml
index cdd3796b..036d2432 100644
--- a/charts/humio-operator/crds/core.humio.com_humioclusters.yaml
+++ b/charts/humio-operator/crds/core.humio.com_humioclusters.yaml
@@ -5714,6 +5714,7 @@ spec:
                     x-kubernetes-map-type: atomic
                 type: object
               nodeCount:
+                default: 0
                 description: NodeCount is the desired number of humio cluster nodes
                 type: integer
               nodePoolFeatures:
@@ -11211,6 +11212,7 @@ spec:
                             in the humio pod.
                           type: string
                         nodeCount:
+                          default: 0
                           description: NodeCount is the desired number of humio cluster
                             nodes
                           type: integer
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/core.humio.com_humioclusters.yaml b/config/crd/bases/core.humio.com_humioclusters.yaml
index cdd3796b..036d2432 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/core.humio.com_humioclusters.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/core.humio.com_humioclusters.yaml
@@ -5714,6 +5714,7 @@ spec:
                     x-kubernetes-map-type: atomic
                 type: object
               nodeCount:
+                default: 0
                 description: NodeCount is the desired number of humio cluster nodes
                 type: integer
               nodePoolFeatures:
@@ -11211,6 +11212,7 @@ spec:
                             in the humio pod.
                           type: string
                         nodeCount:
+                          default: 0
                           description: NodeCount is the desired number of humio cluster
                             nodes
                           type: integer
diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index 5d9680d5..e352d695 100644
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -4267,6 +4267,8 @@ the Humio pods.<br/>
         <td>integer</td>
         <td>
           NodeCount is the desired number of humio cluster nodes<br/>
+          <br/>
+            <i>Default</i>: 0<br/>
         </td>
         <td>false</td>
       </tr><tr>
@@ -16237,6 +16239,8 @@ the Humio pods.<br/>
         <td>integer</td>
         <td>
           NodeCount is the desired number of humio cluster nodes<br/>
+          <br/>
+            <i>Default</i>: 0<br/>
         </td>
         <td>false</td>
       </tr><tr>