diff --git a/api/v1beta1/spec.go b/api/v1beta1/spec.go
index 97012594..2410c343 100644
--- a/api/v1beta1/spec.go
+++ b/api/v1beta1/spec.go
@@ -250,12 +250,12 @@ type HelmInstallOptions struct {
 	// Create the release namespace if not present. Defaults to true
 	// +kubebuilder:default:=true
 	// +optional
-	CreateNamespace bool `json:"createNamespace,omitempty"`
+	CreateNamespace *bool `json:"createNamespace,omitempty"`
 
 	// Replaces if set indicates to replace an older release with this one
 	// +kubebuilder:default:=true
 	// +optional
-	Replace bool `json:"replace,omitempty"`
+	Replace *bool `json:"replace,omitempty"`
 
 	// prevent hooks from running during install. If set to true, overrides
 	// DisableHooks in HelmOptions. Use this one when you want to selective
diff --git a/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index 4a747b6e..39a311bd 100644
--- a/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -21,12 +21,11 @@ limitations under the License.
 package v1beta1
 
 import (
+	apiv1beta1 "github.com/projectsveltos/libsveltos/api/v1beta1"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
-	v1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/intstr"
-
-	apiv1beta1 "github.com/projectsveltos/libsveltos/api/v1beta1"
 )
 
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
@@ -848,6 +847,16 @@ func (in *HelmChartSummary) DeepCopy() *HelmChartSummary {
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
 func (in *HelmInstallOptions) DeepCopyInto(out *HelmInstallOptions) {
 	*out = *in
+	if in.CreateNamespace != nil {
+		in, out := &in.CreateNamespace, &out.CreateNamespace
+		*out = new(bool)
+		**out = **in
+	}
+	if in.Replace != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Replace, &out.Replace
+		*out = new(bool)
+		**out = **in
+	}
 }
 
 // DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new HelmInstallOptions.
@@ -875,7 +884,7 @@ func (in *HelmOptions) DeepCopyInto(out *HelmOptions) {
 			(*out)[key] = val
 		}
 	}
-	out.InstallOptions = in.InstallOptions
+	in.InstallOptions.DeepCopyInto(&out.InstallOptions)
 	out.UpgradeOptions = in.UpgradeOptions
 	out.UninstallOptions = in.UninstallOptions
 }
diff --git a/controllers/handlers_helm.go b/controllers/handlers_helm.go
index cf6b665e..0f472dbf 100644
--- a/controllers/handlers_helm.go
+++ b/controllers/handlers_helm.go
@@ -3904,8 +3904,8 @@ func getTakeOwnershipHelmValue(options *configv1beta1.HelmOptions, isUpgrade boo
 }
 
 func getCreateNamespaceHelmValue(options *configv1beta1.HelmOptions) bool {
-	if options != nil {
-		return options.InstallOptions.CreateNamespace
+	if options != nil && options.InstallOptions.CreateNamespace != nil {
+		return *options.InstallOptions.CreateNamespace
 	}
 
 	return true // for backward compatibility
@@ -4012,8 +4012,8 @@ func getLabelsValue(options *configv1beta1.HelmOptions) map[string]string {
 }
 
 func getReplaceValue(options *configv1beta1.HelmOptions) bool {
-	if options != nil {
-		return options.InstallOptions.Replace
+	if options != nil && options.InstallOptions.Replace != nil {
+		return *options.InstallOptions.Replace
 	}
 	return true
 }
diff --git a/test/fv/delete_check_test.go b/test/fv/delete_check_test.go
index 63996ee3..24955329 100644
--- a/test/fv/delete_check_test.go
+++ b/test/fv/delete_check_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 
 	appsv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ spec:
 					Options: &configv1beta1.HelmOptions{
 						DependencyUpdate: true,
 						InstallOptions: configv1beta1.HelmInstallOptions{
-							Replace: false,
+							Replace: ptr.To(false),
 						},
 					},
 				},
diff --git a/test/fv/helm_failure_message_test.go b/test/fv/helm_failure_message_test.go
index bc7dfc9a..c1906aa6 100644
--- a/test/fv/helm_failure_message_test.go
+++ b/test/fv/helm_failure_message_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/util/retry"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 
 	configv1beta1 "github.com/projectsveltos/addon-controller/api/v1beta1"
 	"github.com/projectsveltos/addon-controller/lib/clusterops"
@@ -81,8 +82,8 @@ var _ = Describe("Helm with conflicts", func() {
 					HelmChartAction:  configv1beta1.HelmChartActionInstall,
 					Options: &configv1beta1.HelmOptions{
 						InstallOptions: configv1beta1.HelmInstallOptions{
-							CreateNamespace: true,
-							Replace:         true,
+							CreateNamespace: ptr.To(true),
+							Replace:         ptr.To(true),
 						},
 						Timeout: &metav1.Duration{Duration: time.Second},
 					},
diff --git a/test/fv/helm_options_test.go b/test/fv/helm_options_test.go
index e2ca10ad..fcc2744a 100644
--- a/test/fv/helm_options_test.go
+++ b/test/fv/helm_options_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 
 	appsv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
 	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ var _ = Describe("HelmOptions", func() {
 					Options: &configv1beta1.HelmOptions{
 						DependencyUpdate: true,
 						InstallOptions: configv1beta1.HelmInstallOptions{
-							Replace: false,
+							Replace: ptr.To(false),
 						},
 					},
 				},