diff --git a/src/k8s-extension/azext_k8s_extension/partner_extensions/AzureMLKubernetes.py b/src/k8s-extension/azext_k8s_extension/partner_extensions/AzureMLKubernetes.py
index 2e76da4ecab..db20b3bec3a 100644
--- a/src/k8s-extension/azext_k8s_extension/partner_extensions/AzureMLKubernetes.py
+++ b/src/k8s-extension/azext_k8s_extension/partner_extensions/AzureMLKubernetes.py
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.inferenceRouterServiceType = 'inferenceRouterServiceType'
         self.internalLoadBalancerProvider = 'internalLoadBalancerProvider'
         self.inferenceRouterHA = 'inferenceRouterHA'
+        self.clusterPurpose = 'clusterPurpose'
 
         # constants for existing AKS to AMLARC migration
         self.IS_AKS_MIGRATION = 'isAKSMigration'
@@ -133,15 +134,28 @@ def Create(self, cmd, client, resource_group_name, cluster_name, name, cluster_t
                 cluster_resource_id, parent_api_version)
             cluster_location = resource.location.lower()
             try:
+                isSmallScale = False
                 if cluster_type.lower() == 'connectedclusters':
                     if resource.properties['totalNodeCount'] < 3:
-                        configuration_settings['clusterPurpose'] = 'DevTest'
+                        isSmallScale = True
                 if cluster_type.lower() == 'managedclusters':
                     nodeCount = 0
                     for agent in resource.properties['agentPoolProfiles']:
                         nodeCount += agent['count']
                     if nodeCount < 3:
-                        configuration_settings['clusterPurpose'] = 'DevTest'
+                        isSmallScale = True
+
+                if isSmallScale:
+                    clusterPurpose = _get_value_from_config_protected_config(
+                        self.clusterPurpose, configuration_settings, configuration_protected_settings)
+                    if clusterPurpose is None:
+                        configuration_settings[self.clusterPurpose] = 'DevTest'
+
+                    inferenceRouterHA = _get_value_from_config_protected_config(
+                        self.inferenceRouterHA, configuration_settings, configuration_protected_settings)
+                    if inferenceRouterHA is None:
+                        configuration_settings[self.inferenceRouterHA] = 'false'
+
                 if resource.properties.get('distribution', '').lower() == self.OPEN_SHIFT:
                     configuration_settings[self.OPEN_SHIFT] = 'true'
             except:
@@ -362,16 +376,6 @@ def Update(self, cmd, resource_group_name, cluster_name, auto_upgrade_minor_vers
                               configuration_protected_settings=configuration_protected_settings)
 
     def __normalize_config(self, configuration_settings, configuration_protected_settings):
-        # inference
-        inferenceRouterHA = _get_value_from_config_protected_config(
-            self.inferenceRouterHA, configuration_settings, configuration_protected_settings)
-        if inferenceRouterHA is not None:
-            isTestCluster = str(inferenceRouterHA).lower() == 'false'
-            if isTestCluster:
-                configuration_settings['clusterPurpose'] = 'DevTest'
-            else:
-                configuration_settings['clusterPurpose'] = 'FastProd'
-
         inferenceRouterServiceType = _get_value_from_config_protected_config(
             self.inferenceRouterServiceType, configuration_settings, configuration_protected_settings)
         if inferenceRouterServiceType:
@@ -428,13 +432,6 @@ def __validate_config(self, configuration_settings, configuration_protected_sett
         configuration_protected_settings.pop(self.ENABLE_INFERENCE, None)
 
     def __validate_scoring_fe_settings(self, configuration_settings, configuration_protected_settings, release_namespace):
-        inferenceRouterHA = _get_value_from_config_protected_config(
-            self.inferenceRouterHA, configuration_settings, configuration_protected_settings)
-        isTestCluster = True if inferenceRouterHA is not None and str(inferenceRouterHA).lower() == 'false' else False
-        if isTestCluster:
-            configuration_settings['clusterPurpose'] = 'DevTest'
-        else:
-            configuration_settings['clusterPurpose'] = 'FastProd'
         isAKSMigration = _get_value_from_config_protected_config(
             self.IS_AKS_MIGRATION, configuration_settings, configuration_protected_settings)
         isAKSMigration = str(isAKSMigration).lower() == 'true'