diff --git a/doc/USER_GUIDE.md b/doc/USER_GUIDE.md
index f96c046ea..40025fd95 100644
--- a/doc/USER_GUIDE.md
+++ b/doc/USER_GUIDE.md
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Users have the following options for specifying their own values:
 | `binary_bucket_region` | ```us-west-2``` |  |
 | `cache_container_images` | ```false``` |  |
 | `cni_plugin_version` | ```v1.2.0``` |  |
-| `containerd_version` | ```1.6.*``` |  |
+| `containerd_version` | ```1.7.*``` |  |
 | `creator` | ```{{env `USER`}}``` |  |
 | `docker_version` | ```20.10.*``` |  |
 | `encrypted` | ```false``` |  |
diff --git a/eks-worker-al2-variables.json b/eks-worker-al2-variables.json
index 43b60748c..10a46fdbc 100644
--- a/eks-worker-al2-variables.json
+++ b/eks-worker-al2-variables.json
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
     "binary_bucket_region": "us-west-2",
     "cache_container_images": "false",
     "cni_plugin_version": "v1.2.0",
-    "containerd_version": "1.6.*",
+    "containerd_version": "1.7.*",
     "creator": "{{env `USER`}}",
     "docker_version": "20.10.*",
     "enable_fips": "false",