diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/03-install-hbase.yaml.j2 b/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/03-install-hbase.yaml.j2
index 6989c892..f3e41d9c 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/03-install-hbase.yaml.j2
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/03-install-hbase.yaml.j2
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/10-pause-hbase.yaml.j2 b/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/10-pause-hbase.yaml.j2
index 0431cf88..6880252e 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/10-pause-hbase.yaml.j2
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/10-pause-hbase.yaml.j2
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 2 # ignored because reconciliation is paused
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/20-stop-hbase.yaml.j2 b/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/20-stop-hbase.yaml.j2
index 8bc4007f..9dba3d24 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/20-stop-hbase.yaml.j2
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/20-stop-hbase.yaml.j2
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1 # set to 0 by the operator because cluster is stopped
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/30-restart-hbase.yaml.j2 b/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/30-restart-hbase.yaml.j2
index 9a29aff5..e0040167 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/30-restart-hbase.yaml.j2
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/30-restart-hbase.yaml.j2
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ spec:
       gracefulShutdownTimeout: 1m
       logging:
         enableVectorAgent: {{ lookup('env', 'VECTOR_AGGREGATOR') | length > 0 }}
-      listenerClass: external-stable
+      listenerClass: external-unstable
     roleGroups:
       default:
         replicas: 1