diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/BaseConfigurationService.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/BaseConfigurationService.java
index c27b13714e..5fd908d56e 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/BaseConfigurationService.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/BaseConfigurationService.java
@@ -321,6 +321,8 @@ private <P extends HasMetadata> ResolvedControllerConfiguration<P> controllerCon
     var triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents =
         annotation != null && annotation.triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents();
 
+    var withoutDefaultFilters = annotation != null && annotation.withoutDefaultFilters();
+
     InformerConfiguration<P> informerConfig =
         InformerConfiguration.builder(resourceClass)
             .initFromAnnotation(annotation != null ? annotation.informer() : null, context)
@@ -341,7 +343,8 @@ private <P extends HasMetadata> ResolvedControllerConfiguration<P> controllerCon
         dependentFieldManager,
         this,
         informerConfig,
-        triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents);
+        triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents,
+        withoutDefaultFilters);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfiguration.java
index 63177b614f..73059c985e 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfiguration.java
@@ -121,4 +121,8 @@ default boolean triggerReconcilerOnAllEvent() {
   default boolean triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents() {
     return false;
   }
+
+  default boolean isWithoutDefaultFilters() {
+    return false;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverrider.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverrider.java
index 7856654f1e..d0685e5fc3 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverrider.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverrider.java
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ public class ControllerConfigurationOverrider<R extends HasMetadata> {
   private Map<DependentResourceSpec, Object> configurations;
   private final InformerConfiguration<R>.Builder config;
   private boolean triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents;
+  private boolean withoutDefaultFilters;
 
   private ControllerConfigurationOverrider(ControllerConfiguration<R> original) {
     this.finalizer = original.getFinalizerName();
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ private ControllerConfigurationOverrider(ControllerConfiguration<R> original) {
     this.name = original.getName();
     this.fieldManager = original.fieldManager();
     this.triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents = original.triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents();
+    this.withoutDefaultFilters = original.isWithoutDefaultFilters();
   }
 
   public ControllerConfigurationOverrider<R> withFinalizer(String finalizer) {
@@ -186,6 +188,11 @@ public ControllerConfigurationOverrider<R> withTriggerReconcilerOnAllEvents(
     return this;
   }
 
+  public ControllerConfigurationOverrider<R> withoutDefaultFilters(boolean withoutDefaultFilters) {
+    this.withoutDefaultFilters = withoutDefaultFilters;
+    return this;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Sets a max page size limit when starting the informer. This will result in pagination while
    * populating the cache. This means that longer lists will take multiple requests to fetch. See
@@ -231,6 +238,7 @@ public ControllerConfiguration<R> build() {
         original.getConfigurationService(),
         config.buildForController(),
         triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents,
+        withoutDefaultFilters,
         original.getWorkflowSpec().orElse(null));
   }
 
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ResolvedControllerConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ResolvedControllerConfiguration.java
index 3e620f8f91..d8a19c1194 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ResolvedControllerConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ResolvedControllerConfiguration.java
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ public class ResolvedControllerConfiguration<P extends HasMetadata>
   private final ConfigurationService configurationService;
   private final String fieldManager;
   private final boolean triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents;
+  private final boolean withoutDefaultFilters;
   private WorkflowSpec workflowSpec;
 
   public ResolvedControllerConfiguration(ControllerConfiguration<P> other) {
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ public ResolvedControllerConfiguration(ControllerConfiguration<P> other) {
         other.getConfigurationService(),
         other.getInformerConfig(),
         other.triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents(),
+        other.isWithoutDefaultFilters(),
         other.getWorkflowSpec().orElse(null));
   }
 
@@ -77,6 +79,7 @@ public ResolvedControllerConfiguration(
       ConfigurationService configurationService,
       InformerConfiguration<P> informerConfig,
       boolean triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents,
+      boolean withoutDefaultFilters,
       WorkflowSpec workflowSpec) {
     this(
         name,
@@ -90,7 +93,8 @@ public ResolvedControllerConfiguration(
         fieldManager,
         configurationService,
         informerConfig,
-        triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents);
+        triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents,
+        withoutDefaultFilters);
     setWorkflowSpec(workflowSpec);
   }
 
@@ -106,7 +110,8 @@ protected ResolvedControllerConfiguration(
       String fieldManager,
       ConfigurationService configurationService,
       InformerConfiguration<P> informerConfig,
-      boolean triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents) {
+      boolean triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents,
+      boolean withoutDefaultFilters) {
     this.informerConfig = informerConfig;
     this.configurationService = configurationService;
     this.name = ControllerConfiguration.ensureValidName(name, associatedReconcilerClassName);
@@ -120,6 +125,7 @@ protected ResolvedControllerConfiguration(
         ControllerConfiguration.ensureValidFinalizerName(finalizer, getResourceTypeName());
     this.fieldManager = fieldManager;
     this.triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents = triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents;
+    this.withoutDefaultFilters = withoutDefaultFilters;
   }
 
   protected ResolvedControllerConfiguration(
@@ -139,6 +145,7 @@ protected ResolvedControllerConfiguration(
         null,
         configurationService,
         InformerConfiguration.builder(resourceClass).buildForController(),
+        false,
         false);
   }
 
@@ -234,4 +241,9 @@ public String fieldManager() {
   public boolean triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents() {
     return triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents;
   }
+
+  @Override
+  public boolean isWithoutDefaultFilters() {
+    return withoutDefaultFilters;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/ControllerConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/ControllerConfiguration.java
index d305c28824..f3c6a62340 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/ControllerConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/ControllerConfiguration.java
@@ -105,4 +105,15 @@ MaxReconciliationInterval maxReconciliationInterval() default
    * documentation for further details.
    */
   boolean triggerReconcilerOnAllEvents() default false;
+
+  /**
+   * When set to {@code true}, JOSDK will not apply its default internal update filters (generation-
+   * aware, finalizer-needed, marked-for-deletion) to the controller's event source. The user's
+   * {@link Informer#onUpdateFilter()} becomes the sole filter and has full control. To keep any of
+   * the default behavior, compose it explicitly using the static methods on {@link
+   * io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.controller.InternalEventFilters}.
+   *
+   * @return whether JOSDK's internal update filters are skipped
+   */
+  boolean withoutDefaultFilters() default false;
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/ControllerEventSource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/ControllerEventSource.java
index dfa94577f7..2632886a63 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/ControllerEventSource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/ControllerEventSource.java
@@ -52,18 +52,25 @@ public ControllerEventSource(Controller<T> controller) {
     this.controller = controller;
 
     final var config = controller.getConfiguration();
-    OnUpdateFilter internalOnUpdateFilter =
-        onUpdateFinalizerNeededAndApplied(controller.useFinalizer(), config.getFinalizerName())
-            .or(onUpdateGenerationAware(config.isGenerationAware()))
-            .or(onUpdateMarkedForDeletion());
 
     // by default the on add should be processed in all cases regarding internal filters
     final var informerConfig = config.getInformerConfig();
     Optional.ofNullable(informerConfig.getOnAddFilter()).ifPresent(this::setOnAddFilter);
-    Optional.ofNullable(informerConfig.getOnUpdateFilter())
-        .ifPresentOrElse(
-            filter -> setOnUpdateFilter(filter.and(internalOnUpdateFilter)),
-            () -> setOnUpdateFilter(internalOnUpdateFilter));
+
+    if (config.isWithoutDefaultFilters()) {
+      var userFilter = informerConfig.getOnUpdateFilter();
+      setOnUpdateFilter(userFilter != null ? userFilter : (newResource, oldResource) -> true);
+    } else {
+      OnUpdateFilter internalOnUpdateFilter =
+          onUpdateFinalizerNeededAndApplied(controller.useFinalizer(), config.getFinalizerName())
+              .or(onUpdateGenerationAware(config.isGenerationAware()))
+              .or(onUpdateMarkedForDeletion());
+      Optional.ofNullable(informerConfig.getOnUpdateFilter())
+          .ifPresentOrElse(
+              filter -> setOnUpdateFilter(filter.and(internalOnUpdateFilter)),
+              () -> setOnUpdateFilter(internalOnUpdateFilter));
+    }
+
     Optional.ofNullable(informerConfig.getGenericFilter()).ifPresent(this::setGenericFilter);
     setControllerConfiguration(config);
   }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/InternalEventFilters.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/InternalEventFilters.java
index 747f9f860c..6519fab59b 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/InternalEventFilters.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/InternalEventFilters.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public class InternalEventFilters {
 
   private InternalEventFilters() {}
 
-  static <T extends HasMetadata> OnUpdateFilter<T> onUpdateMarkedForDeletion() {
+  public static <T extends HasMetadata> OnUpdateFilter<T> onUpdateMarkedForDeletion() {
     // the old resource is checked since in corner cases users might still want to update the status
     // for a resource that is marked for deletion
 
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ static <T extends HasMetadata> OnUpdateFilter<T> onUpdateMarkedForDeletion() {
         !oldResource.isMarkedForDeletion() && newResource.isMarkedForDeletion();
   }
 
-  static <T extends HasMetadata> OnUpdateFilter<T> onUpdateGenerationAware(
+  public static <T extends HasMetadata> OnUpdateFilter<T> onUpdateGenerationAware(
       boolean generationAware) {
 
     return (newResource, oldResource) -> {
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ static <T extends HasMetadata> OnUpdateFilter<T> onUpdateGenerationAware(
     };
   }
 
-  static <T extends HasMetadata> OnUpdateFilter<T> onUpdateFinalizerNeededAndApplied(
+  public static <T extends HasMetadata> OnUpdateFilter<T> onUpdateFinalizerNeededAndApplied(
       boolean useFinalizer, String finalizerName) {
     return (newResource, oldResource) -> {
       if (useFinalizer) {
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/ControllerEventSourceTest.java b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/ControllerEventSourceTest.java
index f8cb54f68e..d3fafe8a95 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/ControllerEventSourceTest.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/controller/ControllerEventSourceTest.java
@@ -140,13 +140,45 @@ void callsBroadcastsOnResourceEvents() {
             eq(ResourceAction.UPDATED), eq(customResource1), eq(customResource1));
   }
 
+  @Test
+  void withoutDefaultFiltersUserFilterIsAppliedDirectly() {
+    TestCustomResource cr = TestUtils.testCustomResource();
+    cr.getMetadata().setFinalizers(List.of(FINALIZER));
+    cr.getMetadata().setGeneration(1L);
+
+    // Without default filters, only the user filter runs — no internal generation/finalizer checks.
+    // User filter accepts unconditionally, so the event passes even with same generation.
+    OnUpdateFilter<TestCustomResource> userFilter = (newRes, oldRes) -> true;
+    source = new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, userFilter, null, true));
+    setUpSource(source, true, controllerConfig);
+
+    source.handleEvent(ResourceAction.UPDATED, cr, cr, null);
+
+    verify(eventHandler, times(1)).handleEvent(any());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void withoutDefaultFiltersUserFilterCanRejectEvents() {
+    TestCustomResource cr = TestUtils.testCustomResource();
+
+    OnUpdateFilter<TestCustomResource> userFilter = (newRes, oldRes) -> false;
+    source = new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, userFilter, null, true));
+    setUpSource(source, true, controllerConfig);
+
+    source.handleEvent(ResourceAction.UPDATED, cr, cr, null);
+
+    verify(eventHandler, never()).handleEvent(any());
+  }
+
   @Test
   void filtersOutEventsOnAddAndUpdate() {
     TestCustomResource cr = TestUtils.testCustomResource();
 
     OnAddFilter<TestCustomResource> onAddFilter = (res) -> false;
     OnUpdateFilter<TestCustomResource> onUpdatePredicate = (res, res2) -> false;
-    source = new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(onAddFilter, onUpdatePredicate, null));
+    source =
+        new ControllerEventSource<>(
+            new TestController(onAddFilter, onUpdatePredicate, null, false));
     setUpSource(source, true, controllerConfig);
 
     source.handleEvent(ResourceAction.ADDED, cr, null, null);
@@ -159,7 +191,7 @@ void filtersOutEventsOnAddAndUpdate() {
   void genericFilterFiltersOutAddUpdateAndDeleteEvents() {
     TestCustomResource cr = TestUtils.testCustomResource();
 
-    source = new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, null, res -> false));
+    source = new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, null, res -> false, false));
     setUpSource(source, true, controllerConfig);
 
     source.handleEvent(ResourceAction.ADDED, cr, null, null);
@@ -174,7 +206,7 @@ void ownUpdateEchoIsFilteredOutByEventFilter() throws InterruptedException {
     // End-to-end smoke for the event-filter wiring on the controller path: an event for our
     // own write must not propagate. Detail-level filter scenarios are covered in
     // EventingDetailTest / EventFilterSupportTest.
-    source = spy(new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, null, null)));
+    source = spy(new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, null, null, false)));
     setUpSource(source, true, controllerConfig);
     doReturn(Optional.empty()).when(source).get(any());
 
@@ -189,7 +221,7 @@ void ownUpdateEchoIsFilteredOutByEventFilter() throws InterruptedException {
   @Test
   void foreignUpdateDuringFilteringPropagatesAsUpdate() {
     // An external event during the filter window must surface (not be filtered as own).
-    source = spy(new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, null, null)));
+    source = spy(new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, null, null, false)));
     setUpSource(source, true, controllerConfig);
 
     var latch = sendForEventFilteringUpdate(2);
@@ -203,7 +235,7 @@ void foreignUpdateDuringFilteringPropagatesAsUpdate() {
   void deleteEventDuringFilteringPropagatesAsDelete() {
     // A DELETE arriving during the filter window must surface — the resource has gone,
     // so the filter must not silence it just because our own write is still tracking RVs.
-    source = spy(new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, null, null)));
+    source = spy(new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, null, null, false)));
     setUpSource(source, true, controllerConfig);
 
     var latch = sendForEventFilteringUpdate(2);
@@ -223,7 +255,7 @@ void deleteEventDuringFilteringPropagatesAsDelete() {
   void multipleForeignEventsDuringFilteringMergeIntoSingleEvent() {
     // Several external events during one filter window collapse into a single
     // synthesized event spanning prev → latest seen.
-    source = spy(new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, null, null)));
+    source = spy(new ControllerEventSource<>(new TestController(null, null, null, false)));
     setUpSource(source, true, controllerConfig);
 
     var latch = sendForEventFilteringUpdate(2);
@@ -266,17 +298,19 @@ private static class TestController extends Controller<TestCustomResource> {
     public TestController(
         OnAddFilter<TestCustomResource> onAddFilter,
         OnUpdateFilter<TestCustomResource> onUpdateFilter,
-        GenericFilter<TestCustomResource> genericFilter) {
+        GenericFilter<TestCustomResource> genericFilter,
+        boolean withoutDefaultFilters) {
       super(
           reconciler,
-          new TestConfiguration(true, onAddFilter, onUpdateFilter, genericFilter),
+          new TestConfiguration(
+              true, onAddFilter, onUpdateFilter, genericFilter, withoutDefaultFilters),
           MockKubernetesClient.client(TestCustomResource.class));
     }
 
     public TestController(boolean generationAware) {
       super(
           reconciler,
-          new TestConfiguration(generationAware, null, null, null),
+          new TestConfiguration(generationAware, null, null, null, false),
           MockKubernetesClient.client(TestCustomResource.class));
     }
 
@@ -298,7 +332,8 @@ public TestConfiguration(
         boolean generationAware,
         OnAddFilter<TestCustomResource> onAddFilter,
         OnUpdateFilter<TestCustomResource> onUpdateFilter,
-        GenericFilter<TestCustomResource> genericFilter) {
+        GenericFilter<TestCustomResource> genericFilter,
+        boolean withoutDefaultFilters) {
       super(
           "test",
           generationAware,
@@ -316,7 +351,8 @@ public TestConfiguration(
               .withGenericFilter(genericFilter)
               .withComparableResourceVersions(true)
               .buildForController(),
-          false);
+          false,
+          withoutDefaultFilters);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/baseapi/filter/WithoutDefaultFiltersIT.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/baseapi/filter/WithoutDefaultFiltersIT.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d305610f9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/baseapi/filter/WithoutDefaultFiltersIT.java
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Java Operator SDK Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.baseapi.filter;
+
+import java.time.Duration;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.extension.RegisterExtension;
+
+import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.ObjectMetaBuilder;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.junit.LocallyRunOperatorExtension;
+
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.awaitility.Awaitility.await;
+
+class WithoutDefaultFiltersIT {
+
+  public static final String RESOURCE_NAME = "without-default-filters-test1";
+  public static final int POLL_DELAY = 150;
+
+  @RegisterExtension
+  LocallyRunOperatorExtension operator =
+      LocallyRunOperatorExtension.builder()
+          .withReconciler(new WithoutDefaultFiltersReconciler())
+          .build();
+
+  @Test
+  void userFilterFullyControlsUpdateEvents() {
+    var res = operator.create(createResource());
+
+    await()
+        .pollDelay(Duration.ofMillis(POLL_DELAY))
+        .untilAsserted(() -> assertThat(reconciler().getNumberOfExecutions()).isEqualTo(1));
+
+    res = operator.get(FilterTestCustomResource.class, RESOURCE_NAME);
+    res.getSpec().setValue("updated");
+    operator.replace(res);
+
+    await()
+        .pollDelay(Duration.ofMillis(POLL_DELAY))
+        .untilAsserted(() -> assertThat(reconciler().getNumberOfExecutions()).isEqualTo(2));
+
+    res = operator.get(FilterTestCustomResource.class, RESOURCE_NAME);
+    res.getMetadata()
+        .setAnnotations(Map.of(WithoutDefaultFiltersReconciler.TRIGGER_ANNOTATION, "true"));
+    operator.replace(res);
+
+    await()
+        .pollDelay(Duration.ofMillis(POLL_DELAY))
+        .untilAsserted(() -> assertThat(reconciler().getNumberOfExecutions()).isEqualTo(3));
+
+    res = operator.get(FilterTestCustomResource.class, RESOURCE_NAME);
+    res.getMetadata().getAnnotations().remove(WithoutDefaultFiltersReconciler.TRIGGER_ANNOTATION);
+    operator.replace(res);
+
+    await()
+        .pollDelay(Duration.ofMillis(POLL_DELAY))
+        .untilAsserted(() -> assertThat(reconciler().getNumberOfExecutions()).isEqualTo(3));
+  }
+
+  private WithoutDefaultFiltersReconciler reconciler() {
+    return operator.getReconcilerOfType(WithoutDefaultFiltersReconciler.class);
+  }
+
+  FilterTestCustomResource createResource() {
+    var resource = new FilterTestCustomResource();
+    resource.setMetadata(new ObjectMetaBuilder().withName(RESOURCE_NAME).build());
+    resource.setSpec(new FilterTestResourceSpec());
+    resource.getSpec().setValue("initial");
+    return resource;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/baseapi/filter/WithoutDefaultFiltersReconciler.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/baseapi/filter/WithoutDefaultFiltersReconciler.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a42f068d04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/baseapi/filter/WithoutDefaultFiltersReconciler.java
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Java Operator SDK Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.baseapi.filter;
+
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
+
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.informer.Informer;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ControllerConfiguration;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Reconciler;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.UpdateControl;
+
+@ControllerConfiguration(
+    withoutDefaultFilters = true,
+    informer = @Informer(onUpdateFilter = WithoutDefaultFiltersUpdateFilter.class))
+public class WithoutDefaultFiltersReconciler implements Reconciler<FilterTestCustomResource> {
+
+  public static final String TRIGGER_ANNOTATION = "trigger-without-default-filters";
+
+  private final AtomicInteger numberOfExecutions = new AtomicInteger(0);
+
+  @Override
+  public UpdateControl<FilterTestCustomResource> reconcile(
+      FilterTestCustomResource resource, Context<FilterTestCustomResource> context) {
+    numberOfExecutions.incrementAndGet();
+    return UpdateControl.noUpdate();
+  }
+
+  public int getNumberOfExecutions() {
+    return numberOfExecutions.get();
+  }
+}
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/baseapi/filter/WithoutDefaultFiltersUpdateFilter.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/baseapi/filter/WithoutDefaultFiltersUpdateFilter.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8281689f5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/baseapi/filter/WithoutDefaultFiltersUpdateFilter.java
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Java Operator SDK Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.baseapi.filter;
+
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.controller.InternalEventFilters;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.filter.OnUpdateFilter;
+
+public class WithoutDefaultFiltersUpdateFilter implements OnUpdateFilter<FilterTestCustomResource> {
+
+  private final OnUpdateFilter<FilterTestCustomResource> composed =
+      InternalEventFilters.<FilterTestCustomResource>onUpdateGenerationAware(true)
+          .or(
+              (newResource, oldResource) -> {
+                var annotations = newResource.getMetadata().getAnnotations();
+                return annotations != null
+                    && "true"
+                        .equals(
+                            annotations.get(WithoutDefaultFiltersReconciler.TRIGGER_ANNOTATION));
+              });
+
+  @Override
+  public boolean accept(
+      FilterTestCustomResource newResource, FilterTestCustomResource oldResource) {
+    return composed.accept(newResource, oldResource);
+  }
+}