diff --git a/bundle/manifests/runtime-component.clusterserviceversion.yaml b/bundle/manifests/runtime-component.clusterserviceversion.yaml
index 019e03f9..b91f1a69 100644
--- a/bundle/manifests/runtime-component.clusterserviceversion.yaml
+++ b/bundle/manifests/runtime-component.clusterserviceversion.yaml
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ metadata:
     categories: Application Runtime
     certified: "true"
     containerImage: icr.io/appcafe/runtime-component-operator:daily
-    createdAt: "2025-06-23T19:46:14Z"
+    createdAt: "2025-07-15T04:30:14Z"
     description: Deploys any runtime component with dynamic and auto-tuning configuration
     features.operators.openshift.io/disconnected: "true"
     features.operators.openshift.io/fips-compliant: "true"
diff --git a/common/config.go b/common/config.go
index 5d0d413e..c40f94e8 100644
--- a/common/config.go
+++ b/common/config.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package common
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
 	uberzap "go.uber.org/zap"
@@ -59,6 +60,9 @@ const (
 
 	// OpConfigShowReconcileInterval default whether reconcile interval will be visible in the instance's status field
 	OpConfigShowReconcileInterval = "showReconcileInterval"
+
+	// OpConfigDelayReconcile list of instances/namespaces with delayed reconciliation
+	OpConfigDelayReconcile = "delayReconcile"
 )
 
 // Config stores operator configuration
@@ -108,6 +112,34 @@ func LoadFromConfig(oc *sync.Map, key string) string {
 	return value.(string)
 }
 
+// Checks if the instance / namespace exists in delay reconcile list
+func CheckDelayReconcile(oc *sync.Map, key string, name string, namespace string, OperatorName string) (bool, error) {
+	value := LoadFromConfig(oc, key)
+	lines := strings.Split(value, "\n")
+
+	nsFound := false
+
+	for _, line := range lines {
+		if strings.Contains(line, ":") {
+			ns := strings.TrimRight(line, ":")
+			if namespace == ns {
+				nsFound = true
+			} else {
+				nsFound = false
+			}
+		} else if nsFound && strings.Contains(line, "- ") {
+			instance := strings.TrimLeft(line, "- ")
+			if instance == "*" || instance == name {
+				return true, nil
+			}
+		} else if !strings.Contains(line, ":") && !strings.Contains(line, "- ") {
+			return false, errors.New("delayReconcile syntax error in ConfigMap: " + OperatorName + ".")
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false, nil
+}
+
 func CheckValidValue(oc *sync.Map, key string, OperatorName string) error {
 	value := LoadFromConfig(oc, key)
 
diff --git a/internal/controller/runtimecomponent_controller.go b/internal/controller/runtimecomponent_controller.go
index 59c0546a..81feee97 100644
--- a/internal/controller/runtimecomponent_controller.go
+++ b/internal/controller/runtimecomponent_controller.go
@@ -124,6 +124,17 @@ func (r *RuntimeComponentReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Req
 		return reconcile.Result{}, err
 	}
 
+	// If the instance was already reconciled and is waiting for operator version upgrade
+	if instance.Status.Versions.Reconciled != "" && instance.Status.Versions.Reconciled != appstacksutils.RCOOperandVersion {
+		// If the instance / namespace is listed under delayReconcile in ConfigMap, skip and delay reconciliation
+		delay, err := common.CheckDelayReconcile(common.Config, common.OpConfigDelayReconcile, req.Name, req.Namespace, OperatorName)
+		if err != nil {
+			return r.ManageError(err, common.StatusConditionTypeReconciled, instance)
+		} else if delay {
+			return r.ManageSuccess(common.StatusConditionTypeReconciled, instance)
+		}
+	}
+
 	if err = common.CheckValidValue(common.Config, common.OpConfigReconcileIntervalMinimum, OperatorName); err != nil {
 		return r.ManageError(err, common.StatusConditionTypeReconciled, instance)
 	}