diff --git a/locator/network_topology_strategy.cc b/locator/network_topology_strategy.cc
index 80c929a780..53e8c6645f 100644
--- a/locator/network_topology_strategy.cc
+++ b/locator/network_topology_strategy.cc
@@ -312,10 +312,10 @@ static unsigned calculate_initial_tablets_from_topology(const schema& s, const t
     return initial_tablets;
 }
 
-future<tablet_map> network_topology_strategy::allocate_tablets_for_new_table(schema_ptr s, token_metadata_ptr tm) const {
+future<tablet_map> network_topology_strategy::allocate_tablets_for_new_table(schema_ptr s, token_metadata_ptr tm, unsigned initial_scale) const {
     auto tablet_count = get_initial_tablets();
     if (tablet_count == 0) {
-        tablet_count = calculate_initial_tablets_from_topology(*s, tm->get_topology(), _dc_rep_factor);
+        tablet_count = calculate_initial_tablets_from_topology(*s, tm->get_topology(), _dc_rep_factor) * initial_scale;
     }
     auto aligned_tablet_count = 1ul << log2ceil(tablet_count);
     if (tablet_count != aligned_tablet_count) {
diff --git a/locator/network_topology_strategy.hh b/locator/network_topology_strategy.hh
index e657efc6ef..6fb406ee82 100644
--- a/locator/network_topology_strategy.hh
+++ b/locator/network_topology_strategy.hh
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ public:
 
 public: // tablet_aware_replication_strategy
     virtual effective_replication_map_ptr make_replication_map(table_id, token_metadata_ptr) const override;
-    virtual future<tablet_map> allocate_tablets_for_new_table(schema_ptr, token_metadata_ptr) const override;
+    virtual future<tablet_map> allocate_tablets_for_new_table(schema_ptr, token_metadata_ptr, unsigned initial_scale) const override;
 protected:
     /**
      * calculate endpoints in one pass through the tokens by tracking our
diff --git a/locator/tablet_replication_strategy.hh b/locator/tablet_replication_strategy.hh
index 3e7d5babe1..bd98f1e548 100644
--- a/locator/tablet_replication_strategy.hh
+++ b/locator/tablet_replication_strategy.hh
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ protected:
 public:
     /// Generates tablet_map for a new table.
     /// Runs under group0 guard.
-    virtual future<tablet_map> allocate_tablets_for_new_table(schema_ptr, token_metadata_ptr) const = 0;
+    virtual future<tablet_map> allocate_tablets_for_new_table(schema_ptr, token_metadata_ptr, unsigned initial_scale) const = 0;
 };
 
 } // namespace locator
diff --git a/service/tablet_allocator.cc b/service/tablet_allocator.cc
index d1f5f4cf6f..4e47b2a573 100644
--- a/service/tablet_allocator.cc
+++ b/service/tablet_allocator.cc
@@ -804,7 +804,9 @@ public:
             : _config(std::move(cfg))
             , _migration_notifier(mn)
             , _db(db) {
-        (void)_config;
+        if (_config.initial_tablets_scale == 0) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("Initial tablets scale must be positive");
+        }
         if (db.get_config().check_experimental(db::experimental_features_t::feature::TABLETS)) {
             _migration_notifier.register_listener(this);
         }
@@ -831,7 +833,7 @@ public:
         auto rs = abstract_replication_strategy::create_replication_strategy(ksm.strategy_name(), params);
         if (auto&& tablet_rs = rs->maybe_as_tablet_aware()) {
             auto tm = _db.get_shared_token_metadata().get();
-            auto map = tablet_rs->allocate_tablets_for_new_table(s.shared_from_this(), tm).get0();
+            auto map = tablet_rs->allocate_tablets_for_new_table(s.shared_from_this(), tm, _config.initial_tablets_scale).get0();
             muts.emplace_back(tablet_map_to_mutation(map, s.id(), s.keypace_name(), s.cf_name(), ts).get0());
         }
     }
diff --git a/service/tablet_allocator.hh b/service/tablet_allocator.hh
index d25f8a6bc1..6669b6248d 100644
--- a/service/tablet_allocator.hh
+++ b/service/tablet_allocator.hh
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ class tablet_allocator_impl;
 class tablet_allocator {
 public:
     struct config {
+        unsigned initial_tablets_scale = 1;
     };
     class impl {
     public:
diff --git a/test/boost/network_topology_strategy_test.cc b/test/boost/network_topology_strategy_test.cc
index d70179a49d..998428d127 100644
--- a/test/boost/network_topology_strategy_test.cc
+++ b/test/boost/network_topology_strategy_test.cc
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ SEASTAR_THREAD_TEST_CASE(NetworkTopologyStrategy_tablets_test) {
         .with_column("v", utf8_type)
         .build();
 
-    auto tmap = tab_awr_ptr->allocate_tablets_for_new_table(s, stm.get()).get0();
+    auto tmap = tab_awr_ptr->allocate_tablets_for_new_table(s, stm.get(), 1).get0();
     full_ring_check(tmap, options323, ars_ptr, stm.get());
 
     ///////////////
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ SEASTAR_THREAD_TEST_CASE(NetworkTopologyStrategy_tablets_test) {
     tab_awr_ptr = ars_ptr->maybe_as_tablet_aware();
     BOOST_REQUIRE(tab_awr_ptr);
 
-    tmap = tab_awr_ptr->allocate_tablets_for_new_table(s, stm.get()).get0();
+    tmap = tab_awr_ptr->allocate_tablets_for_new_table(s, stm.get(), 1).get0();
     full_ring_check(tmap, options320, ars_ptr, stm.get());
 
     // Test the case of not enough nodes to meet RF in DC 102
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ SEASTAR_THREAD_TEST_CASE(NetworkTopologyStrategy_tablets_test) {
     tab_awr_ptr = ars_ptr->maybe_as_tablet_aware();
     BOOST_REQUIRE(tab_awr_ptr);
 
-    tmap = tab_awr_ptr->allocate_tablets_for_new_table(s, stm.get()).get0();
+    tmap = tab_awr_ptr->allocate_tablets_for_new_table(s, stm.get(), 1).get0();
     full_ring_check(tmap, options324, ars_ptr, stm.get());
 }