diff --git a/ci/legacy/.github/workflows/command_merge.yaml b/ci/legacy/.github/workflows/command_merge.yaml
index fe0036a5e..3e6b2b912 100644
--- a/ci/legacy/.github/workflows/command_merge.yaml
+++ b/ci/legacy/.github/workflows/command_merge.yaml
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ jobs:
           (!contains(fromJSON(steps.labels.outputs.result).*.name, 'authorized-changes')) &&
           (contains(fromJSON(steps.labels.outputs.result).*.name, 'installation-validated')) &&
           (contains(fromJSON(steps.labels.outputs.result).*.name, 'package-validated')) &&
-          (!contains(fromJSON(steps.labels.outputs.result).*.name, 'new-operator')) &&
           (!contains(fromJSON(steps.labels.outputs.result).*.name, 'do-not-merge/work-in-progress')) &&
           (!contains(fromJSON(steps.labels.outputs.result).*.name, 'do-not-merge/hold'))
         with:
diff --git a/ci/legacy/.github/workflows/operator_ci.yaml b/ci/legacy/.github/workflows/operator_ci.yaml
index 3c6dee7bb..8e1de0e41 100644
--- a/ci/legacy/.github/workflows/operator_ci.yaml
+++ b/ci/legacy/.github/workflows/operator_ci.yaml
@@ -322,8 +322,9 @@ jobs:
               issue_number: context.issue.number,
               owner: context.repo.owner,
               repo: context.repo.repo,
-              labels: [ 'new-operator' ]
+              labels: [ 'new-operator', 'authorized-changes' ]
             })
+
       - name: Verify operator modifications
         id: op-verify-modifications
         env: