diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/user-data.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/user-data.ts
index dda14b2747e3b..5b7d28f9e4b5b 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/user-data.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/user-data.ts
@@ -12,9 +12,7 @@ export function renderUserData(clusterName: string, autoScalingGroup: autoscalin
 
   const extraArgs = new Array<string>();
 
-  if (options.useMaxPods) {
-    extraArgs.push('--use-max-pods');
-  }
+  extraArgs.push(`--use-max-pods ${options.useMaxPods === undefined ? true : options.useMaxPods}`);
 
   if (options.awsApiRetryAttempts) {
     extraArgs.push(`--aws-api-retry-attempts ${options.awsApiRetryAttempts}`);
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.defaults.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.defaults.expected.json
index 4e212861a0efc..47a592717a2b5 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.defaults.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.defaults.expected.json
@@ -1075,7 +1075,7 @@
                 {
                   "Ref": "Cluster9EE0221C"
                 },
-                " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand\"\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack eks-integ-defaults --resource ClusterDefaultCapacityASG00CC9431 --region test-region"
+                " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand\" --use-max-pods true\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack eks-integ-defaults --resource ClusterDefaultCapacityASG00CC9431 --region test-region"
               ]
             ]
           }
@@ -1246,4 +1246,4 @@
       "Default": "/aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/1.14/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     }
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.kubectl-disabled.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.kubectl-disabled.expected.json
index 1df699dabf083..8585392b33d05 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.kubectl-disabled.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.kubectl-disabled.expected.json
@@ -860,7 +860,7 @@
                 {
                   "Ref": "EKSClusterBA6ECF8F"
                 },
-                " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand\"\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack eks-integ-kubectl-disabled --resource EKSClusterNodesASGC2597E34 --region test-region"
+                " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand\" --use-max-pods true\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack eks-integ-kubectl-disabled --resource EKSClusterNodesASGC2597E34 --region test-region"
               ]
             ]
           }
@@ -975,4 +975,4 @@
       "Default": "/aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/1.14/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     }
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.lit.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.lit.expected.json
index 11e75ee00d8bf..8c93b93fd97fa 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.lit.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.lit.expected.json
@@ -1075,7 +1075,7 @@
                 {
                   "Ref": "EKSClusterE11008B6"
                 },
-                " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand\"\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack eks-integ-test-basic --resource EKSClusterNodesASGC2597E34 --region test-region"
+                " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand\" --use-max-pods true\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack eks-integ-test-basic --resource EKSClusterNodesASGC2597E34 --region test-region"
               ]
             ]
           }
@@ -1246,4 +1246,4 @@
       "Default": "/aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/1.14/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     }
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-kubectl.lit.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-kubectl.lit.expected.json
index 8d2096bd5bde7..779a99d93043e 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-kubectl.lit.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-kubectl.lit.expected.json
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@
                   {
                     "Ref": "cluster227BD1CB20"
                   },
-                  " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand\"\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack k8s-cluster --resource cluster22NodesASGC0A97398 --region test-region"
+                  " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand\" --use-max-pods true\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack k8s-cluster --resource cluster22NodesASGC0A97398 --region test-region"
                 ]
               ]
             }
@@ -1173,4 +1173,4 @@
       }
     }
   }
-]
\ No newline at end of file
+]
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-spot.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-spot.expected.json
index ed96b80703d1a..e3bcba92f1d80 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-spot.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-spot.expected.json
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@
                 {
                   "Ref": "myClusterE51CD07F"
                 },
-                " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand\"\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack integ-eks-spot --resource myClusterDefaultCapacityASGF3FE3A19 --region test-region"
+                " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand\" --use-max-pods true\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack integ-eks-spot --resource myClusterDefaultCapacityASGF3FE3A19 --region test-region"
               ]
             ]
           }
@@ -1251,7 +1251,7 @@
                 {
                   "Ref": "myClusterE51CD07F"
                 },
-                " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=Ec2Spot --register-with-taints=spotInstance=true:PreferNoSchedule --node-labels foo=bar,goo=far\" --aws-api-retry-attempts 5\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack integ-eks-spot --resource myClusterspotASG5D95FD2F --region test-region"
+                " --kubelet-extra-args \"--node-labels lifecycle=Ec2Spot --register-with-taints=spotInstance=true:PreferNoSchedule --node-labels foo=bar,goo=far\" --use-max-pods true --aws-api-retry-attempts 5\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack integ-eks-spot --resource myClusterspotASG5D95FD2F --region test-region"
               ]
             ]
           }
@@ -1405,4 +1405,4 @@
       "Default": "/aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/1.14/amazon-linux-2/recommended/image_id"
     }
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/test.cluster.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/test.cluster.ts
index 2452ed15362cb..1d1ba13abb281 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/test.cluster.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/test.cluster.ts
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ export = {
       // THEN
       const template = app.synth().getStack(stack.stackName).template;
       const userData = template.Resources.ClusterMyCapcityLaunchConfig58583345.Properties.UserData;
-      test.deepEqual(userData, { 'Fn::Base64': { 'Fn::Join': [ '', [ '#!/bin/bash\nset -o xtrace\n/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh ', { Ref: 'Cluster9EE0221C' }, ' --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand"\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack Stack --resource ClusterMyCapcityASGD4CD8B97 --region us-east-1' ] ] } });
+      test.deepEqual(userData, { 'Fn::Base64': { 'Fn::Join': [ '', [ '#!/bin/bash\nset -o xtrace\n/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh ', { Ref: 'Cluster9EE0221C' }, ' --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --use-max-pods true\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack Stack --resource ClusterMyCapcityASGD4CD8B97 --region us-east-1' ] ] } });
       test.done();
     },
 
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ export = {
       // THEN
       const template = app.synth().getStack(stack.stackName).template;
       const userData = template.Resources.ClusterMyCapcityLaunchConfig58583345.Properties.UserData;
-      test.deepEqual(userData, { 'Fn::Base64': { 'Fn::Join': [ '', [ '#!/bin/bash\nset -o xtrace\n/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh ', { Ref: 'Cluster9EE0221C' }, ' --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand  --node-labels FOO=42"\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack Stack --resource ClusterMyCapcityASGD4CD8B97 --region us-east-1' ] ] } });
+      test.deepEqual(userData, { 'Fn::Base64': { 'Fn::Join': [ '', [ '#!/bin/bash\nset -o xtrace\n/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh ', { Ref: 'Cluster9EE0221C' }, ' --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand  --node-labels FOO=42" --use-max-pods true\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack Stack --resource ClusterMyCapcityASGD4CD8B97 --region us-east-1' ] ] } });
       test.done();
     },
 
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ export = {
         // THEN
         const template = app.synth().getStack(stack.stackName).template;
         const userData = template.Resources.ClusterMyCapcityLaunchConfig58583345.Properties.UserData;
-        test.deepEqual(userData, { 'Fn::Base64': { 'Fn::Join': [ '', [ '#!/bin/bash\nset -o xtrace\n/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh ', { Ref: 'Cluster9EE0221C' }, ' --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=Ec2Spot --register-with-taints=spotInstance=true:PreferNoSchedule"\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack Stack --resource ClusterMyCapcityASGD4CD8B97 --region us-east-1' ] ] } });
+        test.deepEqual(userData, { 'Fn::Base64': { 'Fn::Join': [ '', [ '#!/bin/bash\nset -o xtrace\n/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh ', { Ref: 'Cluster9EE0221C' }, ' --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=Ec2Spot --register-with-taints=spotInstance=true:PreferNoSchedule" --use-max-pods true\n/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack Stack --resource ClusterMyCapcityASGD4CD8B97 --region us-east-1' ] ] } });
         test.done();
       },
 
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/test.user-data.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/test.user-data.ts
index 6b68672c109bb..7fe5add3cf3e9 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/test.user-data.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/test.user-data.ts
@@ -17,14 +17,14 @@ export = {
     // THEN
     test.deepEqual(userData, [
       'set -o xtrace',
-      '/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand"',
+      '/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --use-max-pods true',
       '/opt/aws/bin/cfn-signal --exit-code $? --stack my-stack --resource ASG46ED3070 --region us-west-33'
     ]);
 
     test.done();
   },
 
-  '--use-max-pods'(test: Test) {
+  '--use-max-pods=true'(test: Test) {
     // GIVEN
     const { asg, stack } = newFixtures();
 
@@ -34,7 +34,21 @@ export = {
     }));
 
     // THEN
-    test.deepEqual(userData[1], '/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --use-max-pods');
+    test.deepEqual(userData[1], '/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --use-max-pods true');
+    test.done();
+  },
+
+  '--use-max-pods=false'(test: Test) {
+    // GIVEN
+    const { asg, stack } = newFixtures();
+
+    // WHEN
+    const userData = stack.resolve(renderUserData('my-cluster-name', asg, {
+      useMaxPods: false
+    }));
+
+    // THEN
+    test.deepEqual(userData[1], '/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --use-max-pods false');
     test.done();
   },
 
@@ -48,7 +62,7 @@ export = {
     }));
 
     // THEN
-    test.deepEqual(userData[1], '/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --aws-api-retry-attempts 123');
+    test.deepEqual(userData[1], '/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --use-max-pods true --aws-api-retry-attempts 123');
     test.done();
   },
 
@@ -62,7 +76,7 @@ export = {
     });
 
     // THEN
-    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --docker-config-json '{"docker":123}'`);
+    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --use-max-pods true --docker-config-json '{"docker":123}'`);
     test.done();
   },
 
@@ -76,7 +90,7 @@ export = {
     }));
 
     // THEN
-    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --enable-docker-bridge`);
+    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --use-max-pods true --enable-docker-bridge`);
     test.done();
   },
 
@@ -90,7 +104,7 @@ export = {
     }));
 
     // THEN
-    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand"`);
+    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --use-max-pods true`);
     test.done();
   },
 
@@ -104,7 +118,7 @@ export = {
     }));
 
     // THEN
-    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand  --extra-args-for --kubelet"`);
+    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand  --extra-args-for --kubelet" --use-max-pods true`);
     test.done();
   },
 
@@ -118,7 +132,7 @@ export = {
     }));
 
     // THEN
-    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --apiserver-endpoint 1111 --foo-bar`);
+    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=OnDemand" --use-max-pods true --apiserver-endpoint 1111 --foo-bar`);
     test.done();
   },
 
@@ -132,7 +146,7 @@ export = {
     }));
 
     // THEN
-    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=Ec2Spot --register-with-taints=spotInstance=true:PreferNoSchedule --node-labels X=y"`);
+    test.deepEqual(userData[1], `/etc/eks/bootstrap.sh my-cluster-name --kubelet-extra-args "--node-labels lifecycle=Ec2Spot --register-with-taints=spotInstance=true:PreferNoSchedule --node-labels X=y" --use-max-pods true`);
     test.done();
   }
 };
@@ -149,4 +163,4 @@ function newFixtures(spot = false) {
   });
 
   return { stack, vpc, asg };
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}