diff --git a/ansible/group_vars/all.yml b/ansible/group_vars/all.yml
index 370d9da92ebac587255f81407f83e9b9e8d44829..b39bf30aec2889098a78dd09012e3fb6bc0aa49e 100644
--- a/ansible/group_vars/all.yml
+++ b/ansible/group_vars/all.yml
@@ -1061,7 +1061,7 @@ ceph_cinder_user: "cinder"
 ceph_glance_user: "glance"
 ceph_gnocchi_user: "gnocchi"
 ceph_manila_user: "manila"
-ceph_nova_user: "nova"
+ceph_nova_user: "{{ ceph_cinder_user }}"
 
 # External Ceph keyrings
 ceph_cinder_keyring: "ceph.client.cinder.keyring"
diff --git a/doc/source/reference/storage/external-ceph-guide.rst b/doc/source/reference/storage/external-ceph-guide.rst
index d4b9477137e8b70e3df50b3cdd1690ca10b7094c..87e085856e294dc7347220f169633a62bbe0d551 100644
--- a/doc/source/reference/storage/external-ceph-guide.rst
+++ b/doc/source/reference/storage/external-ceph-guide.rst
@@ -144,20 +144,19 @@ Configuring Nova for Ceph includes following steps:
 
    * ``ceph_nova_keyring`` (by default it's the same as
      ``ceph_cinder_keyring``)
-   * ``ceph_nova_user`` (default: ``nova``)
+   * ``ceph_nova_user`` (by default it's the same as ``ceph_cinder_user``)
    * ``ceph_nova_pool_name`` (default: ``vms``)
 
 #. Copy Ceph configuration file to ``/etc/kolla/config/nova/ceph.conf``
 #. Copy Ceph keyring file(s) to:
 
-   * ``/etc/kolla/config/nova/<ceph_nova_keyring>`` (if your Ceph deployment
-     created one)
+   * ``/etc/kolla/config/nova/<ceph_nova_keyring>``
 
-   .. warning::
+   .. note::
 
-      If you are using ceph-ansible or another deployment tool that doesn't
-      create separate key for Nova just copy the Cinder key and configure
-      ``ceph_nova_user`` to the same value as ``ceph_cinder_user``.
+      If you are using a Ceph deployment tool that generates separate Ceph
+      keys for Cinder and Nova, you will need to override
+      ``ceph_nova_keyring`` and ``ceph_nova_user`` to match.
 
 Gnocchi
 -------
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/nova-ceph-user-53670f9ccc546225.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/nova-ceph-user-53670f9ccc546225.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9e41c438bf676daf534687dcb3b8c8a680e02508
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/nova-ceph-user-53670f9ccc546225.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixes an issue with default Nova configuration for Ceph where the RBD user
+    is set to ``nova``, but only a ``cinder`` keyring is copied. The default
+    value of ``ceph_nova_user`` is changed to the value of
+    ``ceph_cinder_user``, in line with the default for ``ceph_nova_keyring``.
+    `LP#1934145 <https://bugs.launchpad.net/kolla-ansible/+bug/1934145>`__
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    Modifies the default value of ``ceph_nova_user`` from ``nova`` to
+    the value of ``ceph_cinder_user``, in line with the default for
+    ``ceph_nova_keyring``.  Users who have overridden ``ceph_nova_keyring`` to
+    use separate keyrings for Nova and Cinder should also override
+    ``ceph_nova_user`` to match the Nova keyring. `LP#1934145
+    <https://bugs.launchpad.net/kolla-ansible/+bug/1934145>`__