diff --git a/apis/reaper/v1alpha1/reaper_types.go b/apis/reaper/v1alpha1/reaper_types.go
index 256a4ace7..9154d8b29 100644
--- a/apis/reaper/v1alpha1/reaper_types.go
+++ b/apis/reaper/v1alpha1/reaper_types.go
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ type ReaperTemplate struct {
 	ResourceMeta *meta.ResourceMeta `json:"metadata,omitempty"`
 
 	// +kubebuilder:default={enabled: false}
-	// +optional
 	HttpManagement HttpManagement `json:"httpManagement"`
 }
 
diff --git a/test/kuttl/test-servicemonitors/config/single-node-k8ssandra/kustomization.yaml b/test/kuttl/test-servicemonitors/config/single-node-k8ssandra/kustomization.yaml
index a4baa7836..bf87dedfe 100644
--- a/test/kuttl/test-servicemonitors/config/single-node-k8ssandra/kustomization.yaml
+++ b/test/kuttl/test-servicemonitors/config/single-node-k8ssandra/kustomization.yaml
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ patches:
       - op: add
         path: /spec/reaper
         value:
+          httpManagement:
+              enabled: true
           telemetry:
             prometheus:
               enabled: true