diff --git a/nodepool/nodepool.yaml b/nodepool/nodepool.yaml
index f999498613..2e0ba8d851 100644
--- a/nodepool/nodepool.yaml
+++ b/nodepool/nodepool.yaml
@@ -1041,6 +1041,7 @@ targets:
 
 diskimages:
   - name: debian-jessie
+    pause: true
     elements:
       - debian-minimal
       - vm
@@ -1060,6 +1061,7 @@ diskimages:
       DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR: http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/
       DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT: '0'
   - name: ubuntu-trusty
+    pause: true
     elements:
       - ubuntu-minimal
       - vm
@@ -1081,6 +1083,7 @@ diskimages:
       DIB_DEBOOTSTRAP_EXTRA_ARGS: '--no-check-gpg'
       DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS: 'main,universe'
   - name: ubuntu-xenial
+    pause: true
     elements:
       - ubuntu-minimal
       - vm
@@ -1103,6 +1106,7 @@ diskimages:
       DIB_DEBOOTSTRAP_EXTRA_ARGS: '--no-check-gpg'
       DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS: 'main,universe'
   - name: centos-7
+    pause: true
     elements:
       - centos-minimal
       - vm
@@ -1121,6 +1125,7 @@ diskimages:
       DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT: '0'
       DIB_EPEL_DISABLED: '1'
   - name: fedora-26
+    pause: true
     elements:
       - fedora-minimal
       - vm
@@ -1139,6 +1144,7 @@ diskimages:
       QEMU_IMG_OPTIONS: compat=0.10
       DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT: '0'
   - name: gentoo
+    pause: true
     elements:
       - gentoo
       - vm
@@ -1159,6 +1165,7 @@ diskimages:
       GENTOO_PYTHON_TARGETS: 'python2_7 python3_5'
       GENTOO_PYTHON_ACTIVE_VERSION: python3.5
   - name: opensuse-423
+    pause: true
     elements:
       - opensuse-minimal
       - vm