diff --git a/packaging/flavorgen/flavors/generators.go b/packaging/flavorgen/flavors/generators.go
index 9d3e159860..20e20fd595 100644
--- a/packaging/flavorgen/flavors/generators.go
+++ b/packaging/flavorgen/flavors/generators.go
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ func newVSphereMachineTemplate(templateName string) infrav1.VSphereMachineTempla
 func defaultVirtualMachineSpec() infrav1.VSphereMachineSpec {
 	return infrav1.VSphereMachineSpec{
 		VirtualMachineCloneSpec: defaultVirtualMachineCloneSpec(),
+		PowerOffMode:            infrav1.VirtualMachinePowerOpModeHard,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -311,6 +312,7 @@ func newNodeIPAMVSphereMachineTemplate(templateName string) infrav1.VSphereMachi
 func nodeIPAMVirtualMachineSpec() infrav1.VSphereMachineSpec {
 	return infrav1.VSphereMachineSpec{
 		VirtualMachineCloneSpec: nodeIPAMVirtualMachineCloneSpec(),
+		PowerOffMode:            infrav1.VirtualMachinePowerOpModeHard,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/templates/cluster-template-external-loadbalancer.yaml b/templates/cluster-template-external-loadbalancer.yaml
index 8252a0d5b6..675e0c9687 100644
--- a/templates/cluster-template-external-loadbalancer.yaml
+++ b/templates/cluster-template-external-loadbalancer.yaml
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ spec:
           networkName: '${VSPHERE_NETWORK}'
       numCPUs: 2
       os: Linux
+      powerOffMode: hard
       resourcePool: '${VSPHERE_RESOURCE_POOL}'
       server: '${VSPHERE_SERVER}'
       storagePolicyName: '${VSPHERE_STORAGE_POLICY}'
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ spec:
           networkName: '${VSPHERE_NETWORK}'
       numCPUs: 2
       os: Linux
+      powerOffMode: hard
       resourcePool: '${VSPHERE_RESOURCE_POOL}'
       server: '${VSPHERE_SERVER}'
       storagePolicyName: '${VSPHERE_STORAGE_POLICY}'
diff --git a/templates/cluster-template-ignition.yaml b/templates/cluster-template-ignition.yaml
index 5ed2e32150..49da310908 100644
--- a/templates/cluster-template-ignition.yaml
+++ b/templates/cluster-template-ignition.yaml
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ spec:
           networkName: '${VSPHERE_NETWORK}'
       numCPUs: 2
       os: Linux
+      powerOffMode: hard
       resourcePool: '${VSPHERE_RESOURCE_POOL}'
       server: '${VSPHERE_SERVER}'
       storagePolicyName: '${VSPHERE_STORAGE_POLICY}'
diff --git a/templates/cluster-template-node-ipam.yaml b/templates/cluster-template-node-ipam.yaml
index ac0901f058..3c441fc1cd 100644
--- a/templates/cluster-template-node-ipam.yaml
+++ b/templates/cluster-template-node-ipam.yaml
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ spec:
           networkName: '${VSPHERE_NETWORK}'
       numCPUs: 2
       os: Linux
+      powerOffMode: hard
       resourcePool: '${VSPHERE_RESOURCE_POOL}'
       server: '${VSPHERE_SERVER}'
       storagePolicyName: '${VSPHERE_STORAGE_POLICY}'
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ spec:
           networkName: '${VSPHERE_NETWORK}'
       numCPUs: 2
       os: Linux
+      powerOffMode: hard
       resourcePool: '${VSPHERE_RESOURCE_POOL}'
       server: '${VSPHERE_SERVER}'
       storagePolicyName: '${VSPHERE_STORAGE_POLICY}'
diff --git a/templates/cluster-template.yaml b/templates/cluster-template.yaml
index 0048c12797..d8fdad6e8e 100644
--- a/templates/cluster-template.yaml
+++ b/templates/cluster-template.yaml
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ spec:
           networkName: '${VSPHERE_NETWORK}'
       numCPUs: 2
       os: Linux
+      powerOffMode: hard
       resourcePool: '${VSPHERE_RESOURCE_POOL}'
       server: '${VSPHERE_SERVER}'
       storagePolicyName: '${VSPHERE_STORAGE_POLICY}'
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ spec:
           networkName: '${VSPHERE_NETWORK}'
       numCPUs: 2
       os: Linux
+      powerOffMode: hard
       resourcePool: '${VSPHERE_RESOURCE_POOL}'
       server: '${VSPHERE_SERVER}'
       storagePolicyName: '${VSPHERE_STORAGE_POLICY}'
diff --git a/templates/clusterclass-template.yaml b/templates/clusterclass-template.yaml
index d5714dfca9..d2711cdd76 100644
--- a/templates/clusterclass-template.yaml
+++ b/templates/clusterclass-template.yaml
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ spec:
           networkName: '${VSPHERE_NETWORK}'
       numCPUs: 2
       os: Linux
+      powerOffMode: hard
       resourcePool: '${VSPHERE_RESOURCE_POOL}'
       server: '${VSPHERE_SERVER}'
       storagePolicyName: '${VSPHERE_STORAGE_POLICY}'
@@ -204,6 +205,7 @@ spec:
           networkName: '${VSPHERE_NETWORK}'
       numCPUs: 2
       os: Linux
+      powerOffMode: hard
       resourcePool: '${VSPHERE_RESOURCE_POOL}'
       server: '${VSPHERE_SERVER}'
       storagePolicyName: '${VSPHERE_STORAGE_POLICY}'