As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2017

Registration No. 333 ‑______

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

	Large accelerated filer  ☑		Accelerated filer  ☐
	Non-accelerated filer  ☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company  ☐
			Emerging growth company   ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2(B) of the Securities Act ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

The following documents and information have been filed by National Instruments Corporation (the "Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and are incorporated herein by reference:

a.	The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on February 16, 2017.

b.	The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on May 1, 2017.

c.	The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 26, 2017, March 27, 2017, and May 12, 2017.

d.	The Registrant's description of authorized capital stock contained in its registration statement filed under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating the description.

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Section 145(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), because the person is or was a director or officer of the corporation. Such indemnity may be against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and if, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the person did not have reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor because the person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, against any expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.

Section 145(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against the person in any such capacity, or arising out of the person's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under the provisions of the law.

The Registrant's certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that, subject to certain limited exceptions, the Registrant may indemnify its directors and officers to the extent authorized or permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Registrant's directors and officers are insured under policies of insurance maintained by the Registrant, subject to the limits of the policies, against certain losses arising from any claims made against them by reason of being or having been such directors or officers. In addition, the Registrant has entered into contracts with certain of its directors and officers providing for indemnification of such persons by the Registrant to the full extent authorized or permitted by law, subject to certain limited exceptions.

Not applicable.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Austin, State of Texas, on June 2, 2017.

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION

By: /s/ Alex M. Davern

Alex M. Davern

President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Alexander M. Davern and Karen Rapp, and each of them individually, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign the registration statement filed herewith and any or all amendments to said registration statement with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS