diff --git a/roles/network_plugin/cilium/defaults/main.yml b/roles/network_plugin/cilium/defaults/main.yml
index b0fee8c43..afa45fa6b 100644
--- a/roles/network_plugin/cilium/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/network_plugin/cilium/defaults/main.yml
@@ -216,6 +216,10 @@ cilium_operator_extra_volume_mounts: []
 # Extra arguments for the Cilium Operator
 cilium_operator_custom_args: []
 
+# Tolerations of the cilium operator
+cilium_operator_tolerations:
+  - operator: "Exists"
+
 # Name of the cluster. Only relevant when building a mesh of clusters.
 cilium_cluster_name: default
 
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 421b908b6..c2fcb39e6 100644
--- a/roles/network_plugin/cilium/templates/cilium-operator/deploy.yml.j2
+++ b/roles/network_plugin/cilium/templates/cilium-operator/deploy.yml.j2
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ spec:
               matchLabels:
                 io.cilium/app: operator
       tolerations:
-        - operator: Exists
+        {{ cilium_operator_tolerations | list | to_nice_yaml(indent=2) | indent(8) }}
       volumes:
         - name: cilium-config-path
           configMap: