diff --git a/controllers/k8ssandra/add_dc_test.go b/controllers/k8ssandra/add_dc_test.go
index 71daec2b0..6c30a6855 100644
--- a/controllers/k8ssandra/add_dc_test.go
+++ b/controllers/k8ssandra/add_dc_test.go
@@ -50,8 +50,9 @@ func addDcSetupForSingleDc(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, f *framework.Frame
 	require := require.New(t)
 	kc := &api.K8ssandraCluster{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
-			Namespace: namespace,
-			Name:      "add-dc-test",
+			Namespace:   namespace,
+			Name:        "add-dc-test",
+			Annotations: map[string]string{api.AutomatedUpdateAnnotation: string(api.AllowUpdateAlways)},
 		},
 		Spec: api.K8ssandraClusterSpec{
 			Cassandra: &api.CassandraClusterTemplate{
@@ -119,8 +120,9 @@ func addDcSetupForMultiDc(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, f *framework.Framew
 	require := require.New(t)
 	kc := &api.K8ssandraCluster{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
-			Namespace: namespace,
-			Name:      "add-dc-test",
+			Namespace:   namespace,
+			Name:        "add-dc-test",
+			Annotations: map[string]string{api.AutomatedUpdateAnnotation: string(api.AllowUpdateAlways)},
 		},
 		Spec: api.K8ssandraClusterSpec{
 			Cassandra: &api.CassandraClusterTemplate{
diff --git a/controllers/k8ssandra/stop_dc_test.go b/controllers/k8ssandra/stop_dc_test.go
index f25dd1784..812a46c3b 100644
--- a/controllers/k8ssandra/stop_dc_test.go
+++ b/controllers/k8ssandra/stop_dc_test.go
@@ -49,8 +49,9 @@ func stopDcTestSetup(t *testing.T, f *framework.Framework, ctx context.Context,
 
 	kc := &api.K8ssandraCluster{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
-			Namespace: namespace,
-			Name:      "stop-dc-test",
+			Namespace:   namespace,
+			Name:        "stop-dc-test",
+			Annotations: map[string]string{api.AutomatedUpdateAnnotation: string(api.AllowUpdateAlways)},
 		},
 		Spec: api.K8ssandraClusterSpec{
 			Cassandra: &api.CassandraClusterTemplate{