diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/uffizzicluster_types.go b/api/v1alpha1/uffizzicluster_types.go
index a88f82c1..87e3159f 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/uffizzicluster_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/uffizzicluster_types.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ type UffizziClusterIngress struct {
 }
 
 type UffizziClusterStorage struct {
+	//+kubebuilder:default:=true
 	SyncFromManifests *bool `json:"syncFromManifests,omitempty"`
 }
 
diff --git a/chart/templates/uffizziclusters.uffizzi.com_customresourcedefinition.yaml b/chart/templates/uffizziclusters.uffizzi.com_customresourcedefinition.yaml
index eb183ebc..be7704e4 100644
--- a/chart/templates/uffizziclusters.uffizzi.com_customresourcedefinition.yaml
+++ b/chart/templates/uffizziclusters.uffizzi.com_customresourcedefinition.yaml
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ spec:
               storage:
                 properties:
                   syncFromManifests:
+                    default: true
                     type: boolean
                 type: object
               ttl:
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/uffizzi.com_uffizziclusters.yaml b/config/crd/bases/uffizzi.com_uffizziclusters.yaml
index 7f8ddb95..d5414814 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/uffizzi.com_uffizziclusters.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/uffizzi.com_uffizziclusters.yaml
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ spec:
               storage:
                 properties:
                   syncFromManifests:
+                    default: true
                     type: boolean
                 type: object
               ttl: