diff --git a/pkg/apis/jenkinsio/v1alpha1/jenkins_types.go b/pkg/apis/jenkinsio/v1alpha1/jenkins_types.go
index 4a828442..ac7fa218 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/jenkinsio/v1alpha1/jenkins_types.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/jenkinsio/v1alpha1/jenkins_types.go
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ type Service struct {
 type JenkinsStatus struct {
 	// INSERT ADDITIONAL STATUS FIELD - define observed state of cluster
 	// Important: Run "operator-sdk generate k8s" to regenerate code after modifying this file
+	OperatorVersion                string       `json:"operatorVersion,omitempty"`
 	ProvisionStartTime             *metav1.Time `json:"provisionStartTime,omitempty"`
 	BaseConfigurationCompletedTime *metav1.Time `json:"baseConfigurationCompletedTime,omitempty"`
 	UserConfigurationCompletedTime *metav1.Time `json:"userConfigurationCompletedTime,omitempty"`
diff --git a/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go b/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go
index c6775376..96e7642f 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/pkg/controller/jenkins/groovy"
 	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/pkg/controller/jenkins/plugins"
 	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/pkg/log"
+	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/version"
 
 	"github.com/bndr/gojenkins"
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
@@ -373,6 +374,12 @@ func isPodTerminating(pod corev1.Pod) bool {
 }
 
 func (r *ReconcileJenkinsBaseConfiguration) isRecreatePodNeeded(currentJenkinsMasterPod corev1.Pod) bool {
+	if version.Version != r.jenkins.Status.OperatorVersion {
+		r.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Jenkins Operator version has changed, actual '%+v' new '%+v' - recreating pod",
+			r.jenkins.Status.OperatorVersion, version.Version))
+		return true
+	}
+
 	if currentJenkinsMasterPod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodFailed ||
 		currentJenkinsMasterPod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodSucceeded ||
 		currentJenkinsMasterPod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodUnknown {
diff --git a/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go b/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go
index 1c594500..c387e622 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/pkg/controller/jenkins/plugins"
 	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/pkg/event"
 	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/pkg/log"
+	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/version"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
@@ -231,6 +232,16 @@ func (r *ReconcileJenkins) setDefaults(jenkins *v1alpha1.Jenkins, logger logr.Lo
 		changed = true
 		jenkins.Spec.Master.OperatorPlugins = plugins.BasePlugins()
 	}
+	if len(jenkins.Status.OperatorVersion) > 0 && version.Version != jenkins.Status.OperatorVersion {
+		logger.Info("Setting default operator plugins after Operator version change")
+		changed = true
+		jenkins.Spec.Master.OperatorPlugins = plugins.BasePlugins()
+	}
+	if len(jenkins.Status.OperatorVersion) == 0 {
+		logger.Info("Setting operator version")
+		changed = true
+		jenkins.Status.OperatorVersion = version.Version
+	}
 	if len(jenkins.Spec.Master.Plugins) == 0 {
 		changed = true
 		jenkins.Spec.Master.Plugins = map[string][]string{"simple-theme-plugin:0.5.1": {}}