diff --git a/internal/istiooperator/istio-operator-light.yaml b/internal/istiooperator/istio-operator-light.yaml
index 0572ed864..c2cea2b3c 100644
--- a/internal/istiooperator/istio-operator-light.yaml
+++ b/internal/istiooperator/istio-operator-light.yaml
@@ -191,9 +191,6 @@ spec:
       enableCRDTemplates: false
       validationURL: ""
     cni:
-      repair:
-        repairPods: false
-        deletePods: true
       cniBinDir: /opt/cni/bin
       cniConfDir: /etc/cni/net.d
     defaultRevision: ""
diff --git a/internal/istiooperator/istio-operator.yaml b/internal/istiooperator/istio-operator.yaml
index b1710f302..d1c217c77 100644
--- a/internal/istiooperator/istio-operator.yaml
+++ b/internal/istiooperator/istio-operator.yaml
@@ -204,9 +204,6 @@ spec:
       enableCRDTemplates: false
       validationURL: ""
     cni:
-      repair:
-        repairPods: false
-        deletePods: true
       cniBinDir: /opt/cni/bin
       cniConfDir: /etc/cni/net.d
     defaultRevision: ""