diff --git a/config.tf b/config.tf
index ea06c097009..a70992438f3 100644
--- a/config.tf
+++ b/config.tf
@@ -294,21 +294,30 @@ variable "tectonic_kubelet_debug_config" {
   description = "(internal) debug flags for the kubelet (used in CI only)"
 }
 
-variable "tectonic_ignition_masters" {
+variable "ignition_masters" {
   type    = "list"
   default = []
 
   description = <<EOF
-(internal) Ignition config file paths. This is automatically generated by the installer.
+(internal) Ignition config file contents. This is automatically generated by the installer.
 EOF
 }
 
-variable "tectonic_ignition_worker" {
+variable "ignition_worker" {
   type    = "string"
   default = ""
 
   description = <<EOF
-(internal) Ignition config file path. This is automatically generated by the installer.
+(internal) Ignition config file contents. This is automatically generated by the installer.
+EOF
+}
+
+variable "ignition_bootstrap" {
+  type    = "string"
+  default = ""
+
+  description = <<EOF
+(internal) Ignition config file contents. This is automatically generated by the installer.
 EOF
 }
 
diff --git a/installer/pkg/config-generator/ignition.go b/installer/pkg/config-generator/ignition.go
index d3f03809539..a19a5ef49c9 100644
--- a/installer/pkg/config-generator/ignition.go
+++ b/installer/pkg/config-generator/ignition.go
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ const (
 )
 
 // GenerateIgnConfig generates Ignition configs for the workers and masters.
-func (c *ConfigGenerator) GenerateIgnConfig(clusterDir string) error {
+// It returns the content of the ignition files.
+func (c *ConfigGenerator) GenerateIgnConfig(clusterDir string) (masterIgns []string, workerIgn string, err error) {
 	var masters config.NodePool
 	var workers config.NodePool
 	for _, pool := range c.NodePools {
@@ -28,18 +29,18 @@ func (c *ConfigGenerator) GenerateIgnConfig(clusterDir string) error {
 		case "worker":
 			workers = pool
 		default:
-			return fmt.Errorf("unrecognized role: %s", pool.Name)
+			return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("unrecognized role: %s", pool.Name)
 		}
 	}
 
 	ca, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filepath.Join(clusterDir, caPath))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return nil, "", err
 	}
 
 	workerCfg, err := parseIgnFile(workers.IgnitionFile)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to parse Ignition config for workers: %v", err)
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("failed to parse Ignition config for workers: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	// XXX(crawford): The SSH key should only be added to the bootstrap
@@ -49,13 +50,15 @@ func (c *ConfigGenerator) GenerateIgnConfig(clusterDir string) error {
 	c.appendCertificateAuthority(&workerCfg, ca)
 	c.embedAppendBlock(&workerCfg, "worker", "")
 
-	if err = ignCfgToFile(workerCfg, filepath.Join(clusterDir, config.IgnitionPathWorker)); err != nil {
-		return err
+	ign, err := json.Marshal(&workerCfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal worker ignition: %v", err)
 	}
+	workerIgn = string(ign)
 
 	masterCfg, err := parseIgnFile(masters.IgnitionFile)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to parse Ignition config for masters: %v", err)
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("failed to parse Ignition config for masters: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < masters.Count; i++ {
@@ -68,12 +71,14 @@ func (c *ConfigGenerator) GenerateIgnConfig(clusterDir string) error {
 		c.appendCertificateAuthority(&ignCfg, ca)
 		c.embedAppendBlock(&ignCfg, "master", fmt.Sprintf("etcd_index=%d", i))
 
-		if err = ignCfgToFile(ignCfg, filepath.Join(clusterDir, fmt.Sprintf(config.IgnitionPathMaster, i))); err != nil {
-			return err
+		masterIgn, err := json.Marshal(&ignCfg)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal master ignition: %v", err)
 		}
+		masterIgns = append(masterIgns, string(masterIgn))
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	return masterIgns, workerIgn, nil
 }
 
 func parseIgnFile(filePath string) (ignconfigtypes.Config, error) {
@@ -139,12 +144,3 @@ func (c *ConfigGenerator) getMCSURL(role string, query string) string {
 	}
 	return u
 }
-
-func ignCfgToFile(ignCfg ignconfigtypes.Config, filePath string) error {
-	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(&ignCfg, "", "  ")
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return ioutil.WriteFile(filePath, data, 0666)
-}
diff --git a/installer/pkg/workflow/fixtures/terraform.tfvars b/installer/pkg/workflow/fixtures/terraform.tfvars
index f60c5d7b37a..c427ff5be44 100644
--- a/installer/pkg/workflow/fixtures/terraform.tfvars
+++ b/installer/pkg/workflow/fixtures/terraform.tfvars
@@ -15,11 +15,6 @@
   "tectonic_aws_worker_root_volume_size": 30,
   "tectonic_aws_worker_root_volume_type": "gp2",
   "tectonic_base_domain": "tectonic-ci.de",
-  "tectonic_ignition_masters": [
-    "master-0.ign",
-    "master-1.ign"
-  ],
-  "tectonic_ignition_worker": "worker.ign",
   "tectonic_libvirt_network_if": "osbr0",
   "tectonic_master_count": 2,
   "tectonic_cluster_name": "aws-basic",
diff --git a/installer/pkg/workflow/init.go b/installer/pkg/workflow/init.go
index 69c3f68f738..b0fd9c751d3 100644
--- a/installer/pkg/workflow/init.go
+++ b/installer/pkg/workflow/init.go
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@ func InitWorkflow(configFilePath string) Workflow {
 		metadata: metadata{configFilePath: configFilePath},
 		steps: []step{
 			prepareWorspaceStep,
-			readClusterConfigStep,
-			generateTerraformVariablesStep,
 		},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/installer/pkg/workflow/install.go b/installer/pkg/workflow/install.go
index 22c7dcaf49f..657750dad48 100644
--- a/installer/pkg/workflow/install.go
+++ b/installer/pkg/workflow/install.go
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 package workflow
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 
 	"github.com/openshift/installer/installer/pkg/config-generator"
+	"github.com/openshift/installer/pkg/types/config"
 )
 
 // InstallWorkflow creates new instances of the 'install' workflow,
@@ -46,7 +49,31 @@ func runInstallStep(m *metadata, step string, extraArgs ...string) error {
 
 func generateIgnConfigStep(m *metadata) error {
 	c := configgenerator.New(m.cluster)
-	return c.GenerateIgnConfig(m.clusterDir)
+	masterIgns, workerIgn, err := c.GenerateIgnConfig(m.clusterDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to generate ignition configs: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	terraformVariablesFilePath := filepath.Join(m.clusterDir, terraformVariablesFileName)
+	data, err := ioutil.ReadFile(terraformVariablesFilePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to read terraform.tfvars: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	var cluster config.Cluster
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &cluster); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal terraform.tfvars: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	cluster.IgnitionMasters = masterIgns
+	cluster.IgnitionWorker = workerIgn
+
+	data, err = json.MarshalIndent(&cluster, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal terraform.tfvars: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return ioutil.WriteFile(terraformVariablesFilePath, data, 0666)
 }
 
 func generateTLSConfigStep(m *metadata) error {
diff --git a/modules/aws/master/main.tf b/modules/aws/master/main.tf
index bbfd7284480..71dcb56d5f4 100644
--- a/modules/aws/master/main.tf
+++ b/modules/aws/master/main.tf
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ resource "aws_instance" "master" {
   iam_instance_profile = "${aws_iam_instance_profile.master.name}"
   instance_type        = "${var.ec2_type}"
   subnet_id            = "${element(var.subnet_ids, count.index)}"
-  user_data            = "${file(format("%s/%s", path.cwd, var.user_data_igns[count.index]))}"
+  user_data            = "${var.user_data_igns[count.index]}"
 
   vpc_security_group_ids      = ["${var.master_sg_ids}"]
   associate_public_ip_address = "${var.public_endpoints}"
diff --git a/pkg/types/config/cluster.go b/pkg/types/config/cluster.go
index 5b863877f3b..0655dba4f0c 100644
--- a/pkg/types/config/cluster.go
+++ b/pkg/types/config/cluster.go
@@ -13,11 +13,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	// IgnitionPathMaster is the relative path to the ign master cfg from the tf working directory
-	// This is a format string so that the index can be populated later
-	IgnitionPathMaster = "master-%d.ign"
-	// IgnitionPathWorker is the relative path to the ign worker cfg from the tf working directory
-	IgnitionPathWorker = "worker.ign"
 	// PlatformAWS is the platform for a cluster launched on AWS.
 	PlatformAWS Platform = "aws"
 	// PlatformLibvirt is the platform for a cluster launched on libvirt.
@@ -75,14 +70,9 @@ type Cluster struct {
 	BaseDomain string `json:"tectonic_base_domain,omitempty" yaml:"baseDomain,omitempty"`
 	CA         `json:",inline" yaml:"CA,omitempty"`
 
-	// Deprecated, will be removed soon.
-	IgnitionMasterPaths []string `json:"tectonic_ignition_masters,omitempty" yaml:"-"`
-	// Deprecated, will be removed soon.
-	IgnitionWorkerPath string `json:"tectonic_ignition_worker,omitempty" yaml:"-"`
-
-	IgnitionBootstrap string   `json:"openshift_ignition_bootstrap,omitempty" yaml:"-"`
-	IgnitionMasters   []string `json:"openshift_ignition_master,omitempty" yaml:"-"`
-	IgnitionWorker    string   `json:"openshift_ignition_worker,omitempty" yaml:"-"`
+	IgnitionBootstrap string   `json:"ignition_bootstrap,omitempty" yaml:"-"`
+	IgnitionMasters   []string `json:"ignition_masters,omitempty" yaml:"-"`
+	IgnitionWorker    string   `json:"ignition_worker,omitempty" yaml:"-"`
 
 	Internal        `json:",inline" yaml:"-"`
 	libvirt.Libvirt `json:",inline" yaml:"libvirt,omitempty"`
@@ -116,13 +106,7 @@ func (c *Cluster) TFVars() (string, error) {
 	c.Master.Count = c.NodeCount(c.Master.NodePools)
 	c.Worker.Count = c.NodeCount(c.Worker.NodePools)
 
-	for i := 0; i < c.Master.Count; i++ {
-		c.IgnitionMasterPaths = append(c.IgnitionMasterPaths, fmt.Sprintf(IgnitionPathMaster, i))
-	}
-
-	c.IgnitionWorkerPath = IgnitionPathWorker
-
-	// fill in master ips
+	// Fill in master ips
 	if c.Platform == PlatformLibvirt {
 		if err := c.Libvirt.TFVars(c.Master.Count, c.Worker.Count); err != nil {
 			return "", err
diff --git a/steps/assets/aws/main.tf b/steps/assets/aws/main.tf
index 3419a3c71c5..783d1683584 100644
--- a/steps/assets/aws/main.tf
+++ b/steps/assets/aws/main.tf
@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ module assets_base {
   tectonic_service_cidr         = "${var.tectonic_service_cidr}"
   tectonic_update_channel       = "${var.tectonic_update_channel}"
   tectonic_versions             = "${var.tectonic_versions}"
-  aws_worker_ign_config         = "${file("worker.ign")}"
+  aws_worker_ign_config         = "${var.ignition_worker}"
 }
diff --git a/steps/infra/aws/inputs.tf b/steps/infra/aws/inputs.tf
index ade2b1619a0..7ae2b86caba 100644
--- a/steps/infra/aws/inputs.tf
+++ b/steps/infra/aws/inputs.tf
@@ -7,5 +7,5 @@ data "terraform_remote_state" "assets" {
 }
 
 locals {
-  ignition_bootstrap = "${data.terraform_remote_state.assets.ignition_bootstrap}"
+  ignition_bootstrap = "${var.ignition_bootstrap != "" ? var.ignition_bootstrap : data.terraform_remote_state.assets.ignition_bootstrap}"
 }
diff --git a/steps/infra/aws/main.tf b/steps/infra/aws/main.tf
index 55b26035d89..fc5b8dce50e 100644
--- a/steps/infra/aws/main.tf
+++ b/steps/infra/aws/main.tf
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ module "masters" {
   root_volume_type    = "${var.tectonic_aws_master_root_volume_type}"
   subnet_ids          = "${module.vpc.master_subnet_ids}"
   ec2_ami             = "${var.tectonic_aws_ec2_ami_override}"
-  user_data_igns      = "${var.tectonic_ignition_masters}"
+  user_data_igns      = ["${var.ignition_masters}"]
 }
 
 module "iam" {
diff --git a/steps/infra/libvirt/inputs.tf b/steps/infra/libvirt/inputs.tf
index ade2b1619a0..408a8c9a65d 100644
--- a/steps/infra/libvirt/inputs.tf
+++ b/steps/infra/libvirt/inputs.tf
@@ -4,8 +4,12 @@ data "terraform_remote_state" "assets" {
   config {
     path = "${path.cwd}/assets.tfstate"
   }
+
+  defaults {
+    ignition_bootstrap = ""
+  }
 }
 
 locals {
-  ignition_bootstrap = "${data.terraform_remote_state.assets.ignition_bootstrap}"
+  ignition_bootstrap = "${var.ignition_bootstrap != "" ? var.ignition_bootstrap : data.terraform_remote_state.assets.ignition_bootstrap}"
 }
diff --git a/steps/infra/libvirt/main.tf b/steps/infra/libvirt/main.tf
index 3a480733a39..c63600d2827 100644
--- a/steps/infra/libvirt/main.tf
+++ b/steps/infra/libvirt/main.tf
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ resource "libvirt_volume" "master" {
 resource "libvirt_ignition" "master" {
   count   = "${var.tectonic_master_count}"
   name    = "master-${count.index}.ign"
-  content = "${file(format("%s/%s", path.cwd, var.tectonic_ignition_masters[count.index]))}"
+  content = "${var.ignition_masters[count.index]}"
 }
 
 resource "libvirt_ignition" "worker" {
   name    = "worker.ign"
-  content = "${file("${path.cwd}/${var.tectonic_ignition_worker}")}"
+  content = "${var.ignition_worker}"
 }
 
 resource "libvirt_network" "tectonic_net" {