diff --git a/nsd/config/zones.sls b/nsd/config/zones.sls
index f4f612c..c93ad2d 100644
--- a/nsd/config/zones.sls
+++ b/nsd/config/zones.sls
@@ -10,11 +10,14 @@
 {%- from tplroot ~ "/macros.jinja" import zonefile_name with context %}
 
 {%- set zones = nsd.get('zones', {}) %}
+{%- set opmode = nsd.get('opmode', 'master') %}
 
 {%- if zones | length > 0 %}
 
 {{    config_file('90-generated-zones', 'generated-zones') }}
 
+{%- if opmode == 'master' %}
+
 nsd-config-zones-file-directory:
   file.directory:
     - name: {{ nsd.zones_dir }}
@@ -53,3 +56,4 @@ nsd-config-zones-file-directory:
 
 {%-   endfor %}
 {%- endif %}
+{%- endif %}
diff --git a/pillar.example b/pillar.example
index d3ee892..60ad7f0 100644
--- a/pillar.example
+++ b/pillar.example
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ nsd:
       control-enable: 'yes'
       control-interface: /run/nsd.sock
 
+  # If this option is defined and set to 'slave', no DNS zone files will be installed
+  # opmode: slave
+
   tofs:
     # The files_switch key serves as a selector for alternative
     # directories under the formula files directory. See TOFS pattern