diff --git a/roles/network_plugin/cilium/templates/cilium-operator/deploy.yml.j2 b/roles/network_plugin/cilium/templates/cilium-operator/deploy.yml.j2
index 5a5bd4a92..200b9efe6 100644
--- a/roles/network_plugin/cilium/templates/cilium-operator/deploy.yml.j2
+++ b/roles/network_plugin/cilium/templates/cilium-operator/deploy.yml.j2
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ metadata:
     io.cilium/app: operator
     name: cilium-operator
 spec:
+{% if groups.k8s_cluster | length == 1 %}
+  replicas: 1
+{% else %}
   replicas: {{ cilium_operator_replicas }}
+{% endif %}
   selector:
     matchLabels:
       io.cilium/app: operator