diff --git a/pkg/apis/jenkinsio/v1alpha1/jenkins_types.go b/pkg/apis/jenkinsio/v1alpha1/jenkins_types.go
index 2002fbca..4a828442 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/jenkinsio/v1alpha1/jenkins_types.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/jenkinsio/v1alpha1/jenkins_types.go
@@ -21,11 +21,12 @@ type JenkinsSpec struct {
 // JenkinsMaster defines the Jenkins master pod attributes and plugins,
 // every single change requires Jenkins master pod restart
 type JenkinsMaster struct {
-	Image        string                      `json:"image,omitempty"`
-	NodeSelector map[string]string           `json:"nodeSelector,omitempty"`
-	Annotations  map[string]string           `json:"masterAnnotations,omitempty"`
-	Resources    corev1.ResourceRequirements `json:"resources,omitempty"`
-	Env          []corev1.EnvVar             `json:"env,omitempty"`
+	Image           string                      `json:"image,omitempty"`
+	ImagePullPolicy corev1.PullPolicy           `json:"imagePullPolicy,omitempty"`
+	NodeSelector    map[string]string           `json:"nodeSelector,omitempty"`
+	Annotations     map[string]string           `json:"masterAnnotations,omitempty"`
+	Resources       corev1.ResourceRequirements `json:"resources,omitempty"`
+	Env             []corev1.EnvVar             `json:"env,omitempty"`
 	// OperatorPlugins contains plugins required by operator
 	OperatorPlugins map[string][]string `json:"basePlugins,omitempty"`
 	// Plugins contains plugins required by user
diff --git a/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go b/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go
index fdd99cf9..c6775376 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go
@@ -373,36 +373,39 @@ func isPodTerminating(pod corev1.Pod) bool {
 }
 
 func (r *ReconcileJenkinsBaseConfiguration) isRecreatePodNeeded(currentJenkinsMasterPod corev1.Pod) bool {
-	recreatePod := false
-
 	if currentJenkinsMasterPod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodFailed ||
 		currentJenkinsMasterPod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodSucceeded ||
 		currentJenkinsMasterPod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodUnknown {
 		r.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid Jenkins pod phase '%+v', recreating pod", currentJenkinsMasterPod.Status))
-		recreatePod = true
+		return true
 	}
 
 	if r.jenkins.Spec.Master.Image != currentJenkinsMasterPod.Spec.Containers[0].Image {
 		r.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Jenkins image has changed to '%+v', recreating pod", r.jenkins.Spec.Master.Image))
-		recreatePod = true
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if r.jenkins.Spec.Master.ImagePullPolicy != currentJenkinsMasterPod.Spec.Containers[0].ImagePullPolicy {
+		r.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Jenkins image pull policy has changed to '%+v', recreating pod", r.jenkins.Spec.Master.ImagePullPolicy))
+		return true
 	}
 
 	if len(r.jenkins.Spec.Master.Annotations) > 0 &&
 		!reflect.DeepEqual(r.jenkins.Spec.Master.Annotations, currentJenkinsMasterPod.ObjectMeta.Annotations) {
 		r.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Jenkins pod annotations have changed to '%+v', recreating pod", r.jenkins.Spec.Master.Annotations))
-		recreatePod = true
+		return true
 	}
 
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(r.jenkins.Spec.Master.Resources, currentJenkinsMasterPod.Spec.Containers[0].Resources) {
 		r.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Jenkins pod resources have changed, actual '%+v' required '%+v' - recreating pod",
 			currentJenkinsMasterPod.Spec.Containers[0].Resources, r.jenkins.Spec.Master.Resources))
-		recreatePod = true
+		return true
 	}
 
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(r.jenkins.Spec.Master.NodeSelector, currentJenkinsMasterPod.Spec.NodeSelector) {
 		r.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Jenkins pod node selector has changed, actual '%+v' required '%+v' - recreating pod",
 			currentJenkinsMasterPod.Spec.NodeSelector, r.jenkins.Spec.Master.NodeSelector))
-		recreatePod = true
+		return true
 	}
 
 	requiredEnvs := resources.GetJenkinsMasterPodBaseEnvs()
@@ -410,10 +413,10 @@ func (r *ReconcileJenkinsBaseConfiguration) isRecreatePodNeeded(currentJenkinsMa
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(requiredEnvs, currentJenkinsMasterPod.Spec.Containers[0].Env) {
 		r.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Jenkins env have changed, actual '%+v' required '%+v' - recreating pod",
 			currentJenkinsMasterPod.Spec.Containers[0].Env, requiredEnvs))
-		recreatePod = true
+		return true
 	}
 
-	return recreatePod
+	return false
 }
 
 func (r *ReconcileJenkinsBaseConfiguration) restartJenkinsMasterPod(meta metav1.ObjectMeta) error {
diff --git a/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/resources/pod.go b/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/resources/pod.go
index 898b75ac..e2963f0f 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/resources/pod.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/resources/pod.go
@@ -97,8 +97,9 @@ func NewJenkinsMasterPod(objectMeta metav1.ObjectMeta, jenkins *v1alpha1.Jenkins
 			NodeSelector: jenkins.Spec.Master.NodeSelector,
 			Containers: []corev1.Container{
 				{
-					Name:  "jenkins-master",
-					Image: jenkins.Spec.Master.Image,
+					Name:            "jenkins-master",
+					Image:           jenkins.Spec.Master.Image,
+					ImagePullPolicy: jenkins.Spec.Master.ImagePullPolicy,
 					Command: []string{
 						"bash",
 						fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", jenkinsScriptsVolumePath, initScriptName),
diff --git a/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go b/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go
index cb22439f..1c594500 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go
@@ -219,9 +219,15 @@ func (r *ReconcileJenkins) setDefaults(jenkins *v1alpha1.Jenkins, logger logr.Lo
 		logger.Info("Setting default Jenkins master image: " + constants.DefaultJenkinsMasterImage)
 		changed = true
 		jenkins.Spec.Master.Image = constants.DefaultJenkinsMasterImage
+		jenkins.Spec.Master.ImagePullPolicy = corev1.PullAlways
+	}
+	if len(jenkins.Spec.Master.ImagePullPolicy) == 0 {
+		logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Setting default Jenkins master image pull policy: %s", corev1.PullAlways))
+		changed = true
+		jenkins.Spec.Master.ImagePullPolicy = corev1.PullAlways
 	}
 	if len(jenkins.Spec.Master.OperatorPlugins) == 0 {
-		logger.Info("Setting default base plugins")
+		logger.Info("Setting default operator plugins")
 		changed = true
 		jenkins.Spec.Master.OperatorPlugins = plugins.BasePlugins()
 	}