diff --git a/cmd/plugin.go b/cmd/plugin.go
index b0d1e92657..8295d72f04 100644
--- a/cmd/plugin.go
+++ b/cmd/plugin.go
@@ -109,12 +109,16 @@ Examples:
   steampipe plugin install turbot/azure@0.1.0
 
   # Hide progress bars during installation
-  steampipe plugin install --progress=false aws`,
+  steampipe plugin install --progress=false aws
+
+  # Skip creation of default plugin config file
+  steampipe plugin install --skip-config aws`,
 	}
 
 	cmdconfig.
 		OnCmd(cmd).
 		AddBoolFlag(constants.ArgProgress, true, "Display installation progress").
+		AddBoolFlag(constants.ArgSkipConfig, false, "Skip creating the default config file for plugin").
 		AddBoolFlag(constants.ArgHelp, false, "Help for plugin install", cmdconfig.FlagOptions.WithShortHand("h"))
 	return cmd
 }
@@ -542,7 +546,7 @@ func installPlugin(ctx context.Context, pluginName string, isUpdate bool, bar *u
 		}
 	}()
 
-	image, err := plugin.Install(ctx, pluginName, progress)
+	image, err := plugin.Install(ctx, pluginName, progress, ociinstaller.WithSkipConfig(viper.GetBool(constants.ArgSkipConfig)))
 	if err != nil {
 		msg := ""
 		_, name, stream := ociinstaller.NewSteampipeImageRef(pluginName).GetOrgNameAndStream()
diff --git a/pkg/constants/args.go b/pkg/constants/args.go
index 9e0caae89c..2c02d6d20c 100644
--- a/pkg/constants/args.go
+++ b/pkg/constants/args.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ const (
 	ArgDashboard               = "dashboard"
 	ArgDashboardListen         = "dashboard-listen"
 	ArgDashboardPort           = "dashboard-port"
+	ArgSkipConfig              = "skip-config"
 	ArgForeground              = "foreground"
 	ArgInvoker                 = "invoker"
 	ArgUpdateCheck             = "update-check"
diff --git a/pkg/ociinstaller/config.go b/pkg/ociinstaller/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e08f938391
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/ociinstaller/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package ociinstaller
+
+type pluginInstallConfig struct {
+	skipConfigFile bool
+}
+
+type PluginInstallOption = func(config *pluginInstallConfig)
+
+func WithSkipConfig(skipConfigFile bool) PluginInstallOption {
+	return func(o *pluginInstallConfig) {
+		o.skipConfigFile = skipConfigFile
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/ociinstaller/plugin.go b/pkg/ociinstaller/plugin.go
index 5e62a51da3..f16ca495db 100644
--- a/pkg/ociinstaller/plugin.go
+++ b/pkg/ociinstaller/plugin.go
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ import (
 var versionFileUpdateLock = &sync.Mutex{}
 
 // InstallPlugin installs a plugin from an OCI Image
-func InstallPlugin(ctx context.Context, imageRef string, sub chan struct{}) (*SteampipeImage, error) {
+func InstallPlugin(ctx context.Context, imageRef string, sub chan struct{}, opts ...PluginInstallOption) (*SteampipeImage, error) {
+	config := &pluginInstallConfig{}
+	for _, opt := range opts {
+		opt(config)
+	}
 	tempDir := NewTempDir(filepaths.EnsurePluginDir())
 	defer func() {
 		// send a last beacon to signal completion
@@ -49,9 +53,10 @@ func InstallPlugin(ctx context.Context, imageRef string, sub chan struct{}) (*St
 	if err = installPluginDocs(image, tempDir.Path); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("plugin installation failed: %s", err)
 	}
-	sub <- struct{}{}
-	if err = installPluginConfigFiles(image, tempDir.Path); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("plugin installation failed: %s", err)
+	if !config.skipConfigFile {
+		if err = installPluginConfigFiles(image, tempDir.Path); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("plugin installation failed: %s", err)
+		}
 	}
 	sub <- struct{}{}
 	if err := updatePluginVersionFiles(image); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/plugin/actions.go b/pkg/plugin/actions.go
index 7eecbb9228..6384d33667 100644
--- a/pkg/plugin/actions.go
+++ b/pkg/plugin/actions.go
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ func Exists(plugin string) (bool, error) {
 }
 
 // Install installs a plugin in the local file system
-func Install(ctx context.Context, plugin string, sub chan struct{}) (*ociinstaller.SteampipeImage, error) {
-	image, err := ociinstaller.InstallPlugin(ctx, plugin, sub)
+func Install(ctx context.Context, plugin string, sub chan struct{}, opts ...ociinstaller.PluginInstallOption) (*ociinstaller.SteampipeImage, error) {
+	image, err := ociinstaller.InstallPlugin(ctx, plugin, sub, opts...)
 	return image, err
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/test_files/service_and_plugin.bats b/tests/acceptance/test_files/service_and_plugin.bats
index 873d130223..c92e3805df 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/test_files/service_and_plugin.bats
+++ b/tests/acceptance/test_files/service_and_plugin.bats
@@ -721,6 +721,61 @@ load "$LIB_BATS_SUPPORT/load.bash"
   rm -rf $tmpdir
 }
 
+@test "verify that plugin installed with --skip-config as true, should not have create a default config .spc file in config folder" {
+  tmpdir=$(mktemp -d)
+  run steampipe plugin install aws --skip-config --install-dir $tmpdir
+  assert_success
+
+  run test -f $tmpdir/config/aws.spc
+  assert_failure
+
+  rm -rf $tmpdir
+}
+
+@test "verify that plugin installed with --skip-config as false(default), should have default config .spc file in config folder" {
+  tmpdir=$(mktemp -d)
+  run steampipe plugin install aws --install-dir $tmpdir
+  assert_success
+
+  run test -f $tmpdir/config/aws.spc
+  assert_success
+
+  rm -rf $tmpdir
+}
+
+@test "verify reinstalling a plugin does not overwrite existing plugin config" {
+  # check if the default/tweaked config file for a plugin is not deleted after
+  # re-installation of a plugin
+
+  tmpdir=$(mktemp -d)
+
+  run steampipe plugin install aws --install-dir $tmpdir
+
+  run test -f $tmpdir/config/aws.spc
+  assert_success
+
+  echo '
+  connection "aws" {
+    plugin = "aws"
+    endpoint_url = "http://localhost:4566"
+  }
+  ' >> $tmpdir/config/aws.spc
+  cp $tmpdir/config/aws.spc config.spc
+
+  run steampipe plugin uninstall aws --install-dir $tmpdir
+
+  run steampipe plugin install aws --skip-config --install-dir $tmpdir
+
+  run test -f $tmpdir/config/aws.spc
+  assert_success
+
+  run diff $tmpdir/config/aws.spc config.spc
+  assert_success
+
+  rm config.spc
+  rm -rf $tmpdir
+}
+
 @test "cleanup" {
   rm -f $STEAMPIPE_INSTALL_DIR/config/chaos_agg.spc
   run steampipe plugin uninstall steampipe