diff --git a/config/manager/manager.yaml b/config/manager/manager.yaml
index 92344922..b7611c59 100644
--- a/config/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/config/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -91,5 +91,6 @@ spec:
           requests:
             cpu: 10m
             memory: 64Mi
+      priorityClassName: system-cluster-critical
       serviceAccountName: manager
       terminationGracePeriodSeconds: 10
diff --git a/dist/install.yaml b/dist/install.yaml
index 3cba7316..31c4bc0e 100644
--- a/dist/install.yaml
+++ b/dist/install.yaml
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ spec:
         - mountPath: /tmp/k8s-webhook-server/serving-certs
           name: cert
           readOnly: true
+      priorityClassName: system-cluster-critical
       securityContext:
         runAsNonRoot: true
         seccompProfile: