diff --git a/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go b/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go
index dd33b341..ea791646 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/jenkins/configuration/base/reconcile.go
@@ -510,6 +510,7 @@ func (r *ReconcileJenkinsBaseConfiguration) ensureJenkinsMasterPod(meta metav1.O
 
 		now := metav1.Now()
 		r.Configuration.Jenkins.Status = v1alpha2.JenkinsStatus{
+			OperatorVersion:     version.Version,
 			ProvisionStartTime:  &now,
 			LastBackup:          r.Configuration.Jenkins.Status.LastBackup,
 			PendingBackup:       r.Configuration.Jenkins.Status.LastBackup,
diff --git a/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go b/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go
index e66ad130..b564dfc8 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/jenkins/jenkins_controller.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/pkg/controller/jenkins/notifications/reason"
 	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/pkg/controller/jenkins/plugins"
 	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/pkg/log"
-	"github.com/jenkinsci/kubernetes-operator/version"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
@@ -419,16 +418,6 @@ func (r *ReconcileJenkins) setDefaults(jenkins *v1alpha2.Jenkins, logger logr.Lo
 		changed = true
 		jenkins.Spec.Master.BasePlugins = 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.BasePlugins = basePlugins()
-	}
-	if len(jenkins.Status.OperatorVersion) == 0 {
-		logger.Info("Setting operator version")
-		changed = true
-		jenkins.Status.OperatorVersion = version.Version
-	}
 	if isResourceRequirementsNotSet(jenkinsContainer.Resources) {
 		logger.Info("Setting default Jenkins master container resource requirements")
 		changed = true