diff --git a/operator/deploy/melange.tmpl.yaml b/operator/deploy/melange.tmpl.yaml
index f98e20766..5ec8840b9 100644
--- a/operator/deploy/melange.tmpl.yaml
+++ b/operator/deploy/melange.tmpl.yaml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ environment:
       - go
   environment:
     GOMODCACHE: /var/cache/melange
+    VERSION: ${PACKAGE_VERSION}
 
 pipeline:
   - runs: |
diff --git a/operator/pkg/cli/root.go b/operator/pkg/cli/root.go
index 6a3f384dd..620da41e6 100644
--- a/operator/pkg/cli/root.go
+++ b/operator/pkg/cli/root.go
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ func RootCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 			zaplog := zap.New(zap.UseDevMode(true))
 			ctrl.SetLogger(zaplog)
-			setupLog.Info("Starting manager", "version", versions.Version, "k0sversion", versions.K0sVersion)
 
 			mgr, err := ctrl.NewManager(ctrl.GetConfigOrDie(), ctrl.Options{
 				Scheme: k8sutil.Scheme(),
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ func RootCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				os.Exit(1)
 			}
 
-			setupLog.Info("Starting manager")
+			setupLog.Info("Starting manager", "version", versions.Version, "k0sversion", versions.K0sVersion)
 			if err := mgr.Start(ctrl.SetupSignalHandler()); err != nil {
 				setupLog.Error(err, "problem running manager")
 				os.Exit(1)