diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index a295e383b..1979a378c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ cryptography = "40.0.2"
 executing = "1.2.0"
 pydantic = "< 2"
 ipywidgets = "8.1.2"
+mergedeep = "1.3.4"
 
 [tool.poetry.group.docs]
 optional = true
diff --git a/src/codeflare_sdk/cluster/cluster.py b/src/codeflare_sdk/cluster/cluster.py
index 015f15eda..371fd0949 100644
--- a/src/codeflare_sdk/cluster/cluster.py
+++ b/src/codeflare_sdk/cluster/cluster.py
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ def create_app_wrapper(self):
         gpu = self.config.num_gpus
         workers = self.config.num_workers
         template = self.config.template
+        template_update_dict = self.config.template_update_dict
         image = self.config.image
         appwrapper = self.config.appwrapper
         env = self.config.envs
@@ -176,6 +177,7 @@ def create_app_wrapper(self):
             labels=labels,
             volumes=volumes,
             volume_mounts=volume_mounts,
+            template_update_dict=template_update_dict,
         )
 
     # creates a new cluster with the provided or default spec
diff --git a/src/codeflare_sdk/cluster/config.py b/src/codeflare_sdk/cluster/config.py
index 970673652..c1a5c383b 100644
--- a/src/codeflare_sdk/cluster/config.py
+++ b/src/codeflare_sdk/cluster/config.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ class ClusterConfiguration:
     max_memory: typing.Union[int, str] = 2
     num_gpus: int = 0
     template: str = f"{dir}/templates/base-template.yaml"
+    template_update_dict = {}
     appwrapper: bool = False
     envs: dict = field(default_factory=dict)
     image: str = ""
diff --git a/src/codeflare_sdk/utils/generate_yaml.py b/src/codeflare_sdk/utils/generate_yaml.py
index 3192ae1bc..9a513ae4a 100755
--- a/src/codeflare_sdk/utils/generate_yaml.py
+++ b/src/codeflare_sdk/utils/generate_yaml.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 from os import urandom
 from base64 import b64encode
 from urllib3.util import parse_url
+from mergedeep import merge
 
 
 def read_template(template):
@@ -300,8 +301,10 @@ def generate_appwrapper(
     labels,
     volumes: list[client.V1Volume],
     volume_mounts: list[client.V1VolumeMount],
+    template_update_dict={},
 ):
     cluster_yaml = read_template(template)
+    cluster_yaml = merge(cluster_yaml, template_update_dict)
     appwrapper_name, cluster_name = gen_names(name)
     update_names(cluster_yaml, cluster_name, namespace)
     update_nodes(