diff --git a/release/tools/ec2.conf b/release/tools/ec2.conf
index 9472ec59d89f..557e60260dbf 100644
--- a/release/tools/ec2.conf
+++ b/release/tools/ec2.conf
@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@ vm_extra_pre_umount() {
 	# nodes, but apply the workaround just in case.
 	echo 'hw.broken_txfifo="1"' >> ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf
 
+	# Some EC2 instances suffer a significant (~40%) reduction in
+	# throughput when using blkif indirect segment I/Os.  Disable this
+	# by default for now.
+	echo 'hw.xbd.xbd_enable_indirect="0"' >> ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf
+
 	# The first time the AMI boots, the installed "first boot" scripts
 	# should be allowed to run:
 	# * ec2_configinit (download and process EC2 user-data)