diff --git a/pkg/cluster/connection_pooler.go b/pkg/cluster/connection_pooler.go
index c7dee5443..12c0be6ae 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/connection_pooler.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/connection_pooler.go
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ func (c *Cluster) generateConnectionPoolerPodTemplate(role PostgresRole) (
 		},
 		{
 			Name:  "PGPORT",
-			Value: c.servicePort(role),
+			Value: fmt.Sprint(c.servicePort(role)),
 		},
 		{
 			Name: "PGUSER",
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ func (c *Cluster) generateConnectionPoolerService(connectionPooler *ConnectionPo
 			{
 				Name:       connectionPooler.Name,
 				Port:       pgPort,
-				TargetPort: intstr.IntOrString{Type: 1, StrVal: c.servicePort(connectionPooler.Role)},
+				TargetPort: intstr.IntOrString{IntVal: c.servicePort(connectionPooler.Role)},
 			},
 		},
 		Type: v1.ServiceTypeClusterIP,
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/k8sres.go b/pkg/cluster/k8sres.go
index 21b4589c4..22ee4d33c 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/k8sres.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/k8sres.go
@@ -99,15 +99,15 @@ func (c *Cluster) serviceAddress(role PostgresRole) string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (c *Cluster) servicePort(role PostgresRole) string {
+func (c *Cluster) servicePort(role PostgresRole) int32 {
 	service, exist := c.Services[role]
 
 	if exist {
-		return fmt.Sprint(service.Spec.Ports[0].Port)
+		return service.Spec.Ports[0].Port
 	}
 
-	c.logger.Warningf("No service for role %s", role)
-	return ""
+	c.logger.Warningf("No service for role %s - defaulting to port 5432", role)
+	return 5432
 }
 
 func (c *Cluster) podDisruptionBudgetName() string {
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/k8sres_test.go b/pkg/cluster/k8sres_test.go
index 42bec224d..0a56e2d4b 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/k8sres_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/k8sres_test.go
@@ -1479,7 +1479,7 @@ func getServices(serviceType v1.ServiceType, sourceRanges []string, extTrafficPo
 		v1.ServiceSpec{
 			ExternalTrafficPolicy:    v1.ServiceExternalTrafficPolicyType(extTrafficPolicy),
 			LoadBalancerSourceRanges: sourceRanges,
-			Ports:                    []v1.ServicePort{{Name: clusterName + "-pooler", Port: 5432, TargetPort: intstr.IntOrString{Type: 1, StrVal: "5432"}}},
+			Ports:                    []v1.ServicePort{{Name: clusterName + "-pooler", Port: 5432, TargetPort: intstr.IntOrString{IntVal: 5432}}},
 			Selector:                 map[string]string{"connection-pooler": clusterName + "-pooler"},
 			Type:                     serviceType,
 		},
@@ -1493,7 +1493,7 @@ func getServices(serviceType v1.ServiceType, sourceRanges []string, extTrafficPo
 		v1.ServiceSpec{
 			ExternalTrafficPolicy:    v1.ServiceExternalTrafficPolicyType(extTrafficPolicy),
 			LoadBalancerSourceRanges: sourceRanges,
-			Ports:                    []v1.ServicePort{{Name: clusterName + "-pooler-repl", Port: 5432, TargetPort: intstr.IntOrString{Type: 1, StrVal: "5432"}}},
+			Ports:                    []v1.ServicePort{{Name: clusterName + "-pooler-repl", Port: 5432, TargetPort: intstr.IntOrString{IntVal: 5432}}},
 			Selector:                 map[string]string{"connection-pooler": clusterName + "-pooler-repl"},
 			Type:                     serviceType,
 		},