diff --git a/modules/db_instance/main.tf b/modules/db_instance/main.tf
index 4b908963..45197b81 100644
--- a/modules/db_instance/main.tf
+++ b/modules/db_instance/main.tf
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ resource "aws_db_instance" "this" {
     }
   }
 
-  tags = merge(var.tags, var.db_instance_tags)
+  tags = merge(var.tags, var.copy_db_instance_tags ? var.db_instance_tags : {})
 
   depends_on = [aws_cloudwatch_log_group.this]
 
diff --git a/modules/db_instance/variables.tf b/modules/db_instance/variables.tf
index 31a833d2..48adcf6f 100644
--- a/modules/db_instance/variables.tf
+++ b/modules/db_instance/variables.tf
@@ -341,6 +341,12 @@ variable "db_instance_tags" {
   default     = {}
 }
 
+variable "copy_db_instance_tags" {
+  description = "If true, merge db_instance_tags with the common tags"
+  type        = bool
+  default     = true
+}
+
 variable "option_group_name" {
   description = "Name of the DB option group to associate."
   type        = string