diff --git a/crd/multitenancy/api/v1alpha1/multitenantpodnetworkconfig.go b/crd/multitenancy/api/v1alpha1/multitenantpodnetworkconfig.go
index 7ce862d61f..65324361db 100644
--- a/crd/multitenancy/api/v1alpha1/multitenantpodnetworkconfig.go
+++ b/crd/multitenancy/api/v1alpha1/multitenantpodnetworkconfig.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ type MultitenantPodNetworkConfigSpec struct {
 	// name of PN object from requesting cx pod
 	PodNetwork string `json:"podNetwork"`
 	// name of the requesting cx pod
-	PodName string `json:"podName"`
+	PodName string `json:"podName,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // MultitenantPodNetworkConfigStatus defines the observed state of PodNetworkConfig
diff --git a/crd/multitenancy/manifests/multitenancy.acn.azure.com_multitenantpodnetworkconfigs.yaml b/crd/multitenancy/manifests/multitenancy.acn.azure.com_multitenantpodnetworkconfigs.yaml
index 81ce36cc91..9c7e50c8a1 100644
--- a/crd/multitenancy/manifests/multitenancy.acn.azure.com_multitenantpodnetworkconfigs.yaml
+++ b/crd/multitenancy/manifests/multitenancy.acn.azure.com_multitenantpodnetworkconfigs.yaml
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ spec:
                 description: name of PNI object from requesting cx pod
                 type: string
             required:
-            - podName
             - podNetwork
             type: object
           status: