diff --git a/operator/controller/src/main/java/io/apicurio/registry/operator/resource/ActivationConditions.java b/operator/controller/src/main/java/io/apicurio/registry/operator/resource/ActivationConditions.java
index 69f6dabc84..c3f242a6dd 100644
--- a/operator/controller/src/main/java/io/apicurio/registry/operator/resource/ActivationConditions.java
+++ b/operator/controller/src/main/java/io/apicurio/registry/operator/resource/ActivationConditions.java
@@ -39,12 +39,15 @@ public boolean isMet(DependentResource<Ingress, ApicurioRegistry3> resource,
                 ApicurioRegistry3 primary, Context<ApicurioRegistry3> context) {
 
             var enabled = ofNullable(primary.getSpec()).map(ApicurioRegistry3Spec::getApp)
+                    .map(ComponentSpec::getIngress).map(IngressSpec::getEnabled).orElse(Boolean.TRUE);
+            var hasIngressHost = ofNullable(primary.getSpec()).map(ApicurioRegistry3Spec::getApp)
                     .map(AppSpec::getIngress).map(IngressSpec::getHost).map(host -> !isBlank(host))
                     .orElse(false);
-            if (!enabled) {
+            boolean isManaged = enabled && hasIngressHost;
+            if (!isManaged) {
                 ((AppIngressResource) resource).delete(primary, context);
             }
-            return enabled;
+            return isManaged;
         }
     }
 
@@ -76,12 +79,15 @@ public boolean isMet(DependentResource<Ingress, ApicurioRegistry3> resource,
                 ApicurioRegistry3 primary, Context<ApicurioRegistry3> context) {
 
             var enabled = ofNullable(primary.getSpec()).map(ApicurioRegistry3Spec::getUi)
+                    .map(ComponentSpec::getIngress).map(IngressSpec::getEnabled).orElse(Boolean.TRUE);
+            var hasIngressHost = ofNullable(primary.getSpec()).map(ApicurioRegistry3Spec::getUi)
                     .map(UiSpec::getIngress).map(IngressSpec::getHost).map(host -> !isBlank(host))
                     .orElse(false);
-            if (!enabled) {
+            boolean isManaged = enabled && hasIngressHost;
+            if (!isManaged) {
                 ((UIIngressResource) resource).delete(primary, context);
             }
-            return enabled;
+            return isManaged;
         }
     }
 
@@ -125,12 +131,15 @@ public boolean isMet(DependentResource<Ingress, ApicurioRegistry3> resource,
                 ApicurioRegistry3 primary, Context<ApicurioRegistry3> context) {
 
             var enabled = ofNullable(primary.getSpec()).map(ApicurioRegistry3Spec::getStudioUi)
+                    .map(ComponentSpec::getIngress).map(IngressSpec::getEnabled).orElse(Boolean.TRUE);
+            var hasIngressHost = ofNullable(primary.getSpec()).map(ApicurioRegistry3Spec::getStudioUi)
                     .map(StudioUiSpec::getIngress).map(IngressSpec::getHost).map(host -> !isBlank(host))
                     .orElse(false);
-            if (!enabled) {
+            boolean isManaged = enabled && hasIngressHost;
+            if (!isManaged) {
                 ((StudioUIIngressResource) resource).delete(primary, context);
             }
-            return enabled;
+            return isManaged;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/operator/install/install.yaml b/operator/install/install.yaml
index 4438491914..a90136bb8b 100644
--- a/operator/install/install.yaml
+++ b/operator/install/install.yaml
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@ spec:
                   ingress:
                     description: Configure Ingress for the component.
                     properties:
+                      enabled:
+                        description: |
+                          Whether an Ingress should be managed by the operator.  Defaults to 'true'.
+
+                          Set this to 'false' if you want to create your own custom Ingress.
+                        type: boolean
                       host:
                         description: |-
                           Configure hostname of the operator-managed Ingress. If the value is empty, the operator will not create an Ingress resource for the component.
@@ -3258,6 +3264,12 @@ spec:
                   ingress:
                     description: Configure Ingress for the component.
                     properties:
+                      enabled:
+                        description: |
+                          Whether an Ingress should be managed by the operator.  Defaults to 'true'.
+
+                          Set this to 'false' if you want to create your own custom Ingress.
+                        type: boolean
                       host:
                         description: |-
                           Configure hostname of the operator-managed Ingress. If the value is empty, the operator will not create an Ingress resource for the component.
@@ -6258,6 +6270,12 @@ spec:
                   ingress:
                     description: Configure Ingress for the component.
                     properties:
+                      enabled:
+                        description: |
+                          Whether an Ingress should be managed by the operator.  Defaults to 'true'.
+
+                          Set this to 'false' if you want to create your own custom Ingress.
+                        type: boolean
                       host:
                         description: |-
                           Configure hostname of the operator-managed Ingress. If the value is empty, the operator will not create an Ingress resource for the component.
diff --git a/operator/model/src/main/java/io/apicurio/registry/operator/api/v1/spec/IngressSpec.java b/operator/model/src/main/java/io/apicurio/registry/operator/api/v1/spec/IngressSpec.java
index 06f9228ff6..dcdd330538 100644
--- a/operator/model/src/main/java/io/apicurio/registry/operator/api/v1/spec/IngressSpec.java
+++ b/operator/model/src/main/java/io/apicurio/registry/operator/api/v1/spec/IngressSpec.java
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 @JsonDeserialize(using = None.class)
 @JsonInclude(NON_NULL)
-@JsonPropertyOrder({ "host" })
+@JsonPropertyOrder({ "enabled", "host" })
 @NoArgsConstructor
 @AllArgsConstructor(access = PRIVATE)
 @SuperBuilder(toBuilder = true)
@@ -21,6 +21,18 @@
 @ToString
 public class IngressSpec {
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates whether to create and manage an Ingress for the component
+     */
+    @JsonProperty("enabled")
+    @JsonPropertyDescription("""
+            Whether an Ingress should be managed by the operator.  Defaults to 'true'.
+
+            Set this to 'false' if you want to create your own custom Ingress.
+            """)
+    @JsonSetter(nulls = Nulls.SKIP)
+    private Boolean enabled;
+
     /**
      * Configure hostname of the operator-managed Ingress. If the value is empty, the operator will not create
      * an Ingress resource for the component.