diff --git a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml
index 8fb2249a918..a4a6d279d1c 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ spec:
           - --leader-elect
           - --health-probe-bind-address=:8081
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         name: manager
         ports: []
         securityContext:
diff --git a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
index d21ba52a883..800be0a90d2 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ spec:
           command:
             - /manager
           image: {{ .Values.controllerManager.container.image.repository }}:{{ .Values.controllerManager.container.image.tag }}
+          {{- if .Values.controllerManager.container.imagePullPolicy }}
+          imagePullPolicy: {{ .Values.controllerManager.container.imagePullPolicy }}
+          {{- end }}
           {{- if .Values.controllerManager.container.env }}
           env:
             {{- range $key, $value := .Values.controllerManager.container.env }}
diff --git a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml
index 6f6e23f083c..52879a5615c 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ controllerManager:
     image:
       repository: controller
       tag: latest
+    imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
     args:
       - "--leader-elect"
       - "--metrics-bind-address=:8443"
diff --git a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml
index 7d342a5524e..6e83c23ed53 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml
@@ -4209,6 +4209,7 @@ spec:
         command:
         - /manager
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         livenessProbe:
           httpGet:
             path: /healthz
diff --git a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml
index 8fb2249a918..a4a6d279d1c 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ spec:
           - --leader-elect
           - --health-probe-bind-address=:8081
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         name: manager
         ports: []
         securityContext:
diff --git a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
index 2fecf33314f..f32a67b2cff 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ spec:
           command:
             - /manager
           image: {{ .Values.controllerManager.container.image.repository }}:{{ .Values.controllerManager.container.image.tag }}
+          {{- if .Values.controllerManager.container.imagePullPolicy }}
+          imagePullPolicy: {{ .Values.controllerManager.container.imagePullPolicy }}
+          {{- end }}
           {{- if .Values.controllerManager.container.env }}
           env:
             {{- range $key, $value := .Values.controllerManager.container.env }}
diff --git a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml
index f1817cdd495..8b45502619e 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ controllerManager:
     image:
       repository: controller
       tag: latest
+    imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
     args:
       - "--leader-elect"
       - "--metrics-bind-address=:8443"
diff --git a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml
index 3261ac31f22..8fd8ba79329 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml
@@ -442,6 +442,7 @@ spec:
         command:
         - /manager
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         livenessProbe:
           httpGet:
             path: /healthz
diff --git a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml
index 8fb2249a918..a4a6d279d1c 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/config/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ spec:
           - --leader-elect
           - --health-probe-bind-address=:8081
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         name: manager
         ports: []
         securityContext:
diff --git a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
index d21ba52a883..800be0a90d2 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ spec:
           command:
             - /manager
           image: {{ .Values.controllerManager.container.image.repository }}:{{ .Values.controllerManager.container.image.tag }}
+          {{- if .Values.controllerManager.container.imagePullPolicy }}
+          imagePullPolicy: {{ .Values.controllerManager.container.imagePullPolicy }}
+          {{- end }}
           {{- if .Values.controllerManager.container.env }}
           env:
             {{- range $key, $value := .Values.controllerManager.container.env }}
diff --git a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml
index 6f6e23f083c..52879a5615c 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/chart/values.yaml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ controllerManager:
     image:
       repository: controller
       tag: latest
+    imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
     args:
       - "--leader-elect"
       - "--metrics-bind-address=:8443"
diff --git a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml
index 63469894196..6e8ccb71aaa 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml
+++ b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/dist/install.yaml
@@ -8102,6 +8102,7 @@ spec:
         command:
         - /manager
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         livenessProbe:
           httpGet:
             path: /healthz
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 1d6a094e73b..f1a4f0d34da 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ go 1.24.5
 
 require (
 	github.com/gobuffalo/flect v1.0.3
+	github.com/h2non/gock v1.2.0
 	github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2 v2.23.4
 	github.com/onsi/gomega v1.38.0
 	github.com/sirupsen/logrus v1.9.3
@@ -23,7 +24,6 @@ require (
 	github.com/go-task/slim-sprig/v3 v3.0.0 // indirect
 	github.com/google/go-cmp v0.7.0 // indirect
 	github.com/google/pprof v0.0.0-20250403155104-27863c87afa6 // indirect
-	github.com/h2non/gock v1.2.0 // indirect
 	github.com/h2non/parth v0.0.0-20190131123155-b4df798d6542 // indirect
 	github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.1.0 // indirect
 	github.com/kr/pretty v0.3.1 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 3be0e6d3cef..620b8768535 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ github.com/kr/pty v1.1.1/go.mod h1:pFQYn66WHrOpPYNljwOMqo10TkYh1fy3cYio2l3bCsQ=
 github.com/kr/text v0.1.0/go.mod h1:4Jbv+DJW3UT/LiOwJeYQe1efqtUx/iVham/4vfdArNI=
 github.com/kr/text v0.2.0 h1:5Nx0Ya0ZqY2ygV366QzturHI13Jq95ApcVaJBhpS+AY=
 github.com/kr/text v0.2.0/go.mod h1:eLer722TekiGuMkidMxC/pM04lWEeraHUUmBw8l2grE=
+github.com/nbio/st v0.0.0-20140626010706-e9e8d9816f32 h1:W6apQkHrMkS0Muv8G/TipAy/FJl/rCYT0+EuS8+Z0z4=
 github.com/nbio/st v0.0.0-20140626010706-e9e8d9816f32/go.mod h1:9wM+0iRr9ahx58uYLpLIr5fm8diHn0JbqRycJi6w0Ms=
 github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2 v2.23.4 h1:ktYTpKJAVZnDT4VjxSbiBenUjmlL/5QkBEocaWXiQus=
 github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2 v2.23.4/go.mod h1:Bt66ApGPBFzHyR+JO10Zbt0Gsp4uWxu5mIOTusL46e8=
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/common/kustomize/v2/scaffolds/internal/templates/config/manager/config.go b/pkg/plugins/common/kustomize/v2/scaffolds/internal/templates/config/manager/config.go
index de91d28a6ea..a09fa957321 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/common/kustomize/v2/scaffolds/internal/templates/config/manager/config.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/common/kustomize/v2/scaffolds/internal/templates/config/manager/config.go
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ spec:
           - --leader-elect
           - --health-probe-bind-address=:8081
         image: {{ .Image }}
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         name: manager
         ports: []
         securityContext:
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/optional/helm/v1alpha/scaffolds/internal/templates/chart-templates/manager/manager.go b/pkg/plugins/optional/helm/v1alpha/scaffolds/internal/templates/chart-templates/manager/manager.go
index e6b2cdf36ba..25099ff68d4 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/optional/helm/v1alpha/scaffolds/internal/templates/chart-templates/manager/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/optional/helm/v1alpha/scaffolds/internal/templates/chart-templates/manager/manager.go
@@ -91,6 +91,9 @@ spec:
           command:
             - /manager
           image: {{ "{{ .Values.controllerManager.container.image.repository }}" }}:{{ "{{ .Values.controllerManager.container.image.tag }}" }}
+          {{ "{{- if .Values.controllerManager.container.imagePullPolicy }}" }}
+          imagePullPolicy: {{ "{{ .Values.controllerManager.container.imagePullPolicy }}" }}
+          {{ "{{- end }}" }}
           {{ "{{- if .Values.controllerManager.container.env }}" }}
           env:
             {{ "{{- range $key, $value := .Values.controllerManager.container.env }}" }}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/optional/helm/v1alpha/scaffolds/internal/templates/values.go b/pkg/plugins/optional/helm/v1alpha/scaffolds/internal/templates/values.go
index 86942894636..d24e2ec3884 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/optional/helm/v1alpha/scaffolds/internal/templates/values.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/optional/helm/v1alpha/scaffolds/internal/templates/values.go
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ controllerManager:
     image:
       repository: controller
       tag: latest
+    imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
     args:
       - "--leader-elect"
       - "--metrics-bind-address=:8443"
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/config/manager/manager.yaml b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/config/manager/manager.yaml
index 6595f5d2236..08c147fdc90 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/config/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/config/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ spec:
           - --leader-elect
           - --health-probe-bind-address=:8081
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         name: manager
         env:
         - name: BUSYBOX_IMAGE
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/dist/install.yaml b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/dist/install.yaml
index dcfa312b512..8a05cc9946b 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/dist/install.yaml
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/dist/install.yaml
@@ -2947,6 +2947,7 @@ spec:
         - name: MEMCACHED_IMAGE
           value: memcached:1.6.26-alpine3.19
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         livenessProbe:
           httpGet:
             path: /healthz
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/config/manager/manager.yaml b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/config/manager/manager.yaml
index 82c7dbc38c3..faf0e3f8257 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/config/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/config/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ spec:
           - --leader-elect
           - --health-probe-bind-address=:8081
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         name: manager
         env:
         - name: BUSYBOX_IMAGE
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
index f37cfc16711..814b31c97ef 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/chart/templates/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ spec:
           command:
             - /manager
           image: {{ .Values.controllerManager.container.image.repository }}:{{ .Values.controllerManager.container.image.tag }}
+          {{- if .Values.controllerManager.container.imagePullPolicy }}
+          imagePullPolicy: {{ .Values.controllerManager.container.imagePullPolicy }}
+          {{- end }}
           {{- if .Values.controllerManager.container.env }}
           env:
             {{- range $key, $value := .Values.controllerManager.container.env }}
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/chart/values.yaml b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/chart/values.yaml
index 89757cd37f7..93478fc72db 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/chart/values.yaml
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/chart/values.yaml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ controllerManager:
     image:
       repository: controller
       tag: latest
+    imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
     args:
       - "--leader-elect"
       - "--metrics-bind-address=:8443"
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/install.yaml b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/install.yaml
index aeb1a3eb82e..40f96e492d0 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/install.yaml
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/dist/install.yaml
@@ -992,6 +992,7 @@ spec:
         - name: MEMCACHED_IMAGE
           value: memcached:1.6.26-alpine3.19
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         livenessProbe:
           httpGet:
             path: /healthz
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4/config/manager/manager.yaml b/testdata/project-v4/config/manager/manager.yaml
index 90cbcc10c8f..7251f2ec682 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4/config/manager/manager.yaml
+++ b/testdata/project-v4/config/manager/manager.yaml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ spec:
           - --leader-elect
           - --health-probe-bind-address=:8081
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         name: manager
         ports: []
         securityContext:
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4/dist/install.yaml b/testdata/project-v4/dist/install.yaml
index a00b03e2c57..50c6c247ad5 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4/dist/install.yaml
+++ b/testdata/project-v4/dist/install.yaml
@@ -975,6 +975,7 @@ spec:
         command:
         - /manager
         image: controller:latest
+        imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         livenessProbe:
           httpGet:
             path: /healthz