diff --git a/api/gateway-operator/v1beta1/controlplane_conversion.go b/api/gateway-operator/v1beta1/controlplane_conversion.go
index 20d3e68e..4da0456c 100644
--- a/api/gateway-operator/v1beta1/controlplane_conversion.go
+++ b/api/gateway-operator/v1beta1/controlplane_conversion.go
@@ -67,7 +67,10 @@ func (c *ControlPlane) ConvertTo(dstRaw conversion.Hub) error {
 
 	dst.ObjectMeta = c.ObjectMeta
 
-	if err := c.Spec.convertTo(&dst.Spec.ControlPlaneOptions, c.Spec.IngressClass); err != nil {
+	// Setting IngressClass wasn't required in v1beta1, but for v2beta1 it is,
+	// thus fill with a default value to make it work without hassle.
+	class := lo.FromPtrOr(c.Spec.IngressClass, "kong")
+	if err := c.Spec.convertTo(&dst.Spec.ControlPlaneOptions, &class); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	dst.Spec.Extensions = c.Spec.Extensions
diff --git a/test/conversion/gateway-operator.konghq.com/v1beta1/controlplane_test.go b/test/conversion/gateway-operator.konghq.com/v1beta1/controlplane_test.go
index 03e59abc..722fd932 100644
--- a/test/conversion/gateway-operator.konghq.com/v1beta1/controlplane_test.go
+++ b/test/conversion/gateway-operator.konghq.com/v1beta1/controlplane_test.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ func TestControlPlane_ConvertTo(t *testing.T) {
 		name                 string
 		spec                 operatorv1beta1.ControlPlaneSpec
 		expectsDataPlane     bool
+		expectedIngressClass *string
 		expectedFeatureGates []operatorv2beta1.ControlPlaneFeatureGate
 		expectedControllers  []operatorv2beta1.ControlPlaneController
 		expectedError        error
@@ -76,9 +77,9 @@ func TestControlPlane_ConvertTo(t *testing.T) {
 						},
 					},
 				},
-				IngressClass: lo.ToPtr("kong"),
 			},
-			expectsDataPlane: true,
+			expectedIngressClass: lo.ToPtr("kong"),
+			expectsDataPlane:     true,
 			expectedFeatureGates: []operatorv2beta1.ControlPlaneFeatureGate{
 				{Name: "GatewayAlpha", State: operatorv2beta1.FeatureGateStateEnabled},
 				{Name: "ExperimentalFeature", State: operatorv2beta1.FeatureGateStateDisabled},
@@ -190,9 +191,10 @@ func TestControlPlane_ConvertTo(t *testing.T) {
 						List: []string{"namespace1", "namespace2"},
 					},
 				},
-				IngressClass: lo.ToPtr("kong"),
+				IngressClass: lo.ToPtr("test"),
 			},
-			expectsDataPlane: false,
+			expectedIngressClass: lo.ToPtr("test"),
+			expectsDataPlane:     false,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "With own namespace watching",
@@ -203,7 +205,8 @@ func TestControlPlane_ConvertTo(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 			},
-			expectsDataPlane: false,
+			expectedIngressClass: lo.ToPtr("kong"),
+			expectsDataPlane:     false,
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -246,7 +249,7 @@ func TestControlPlane_ConvertTo(t *testing.T) {
 				require.Nil(t, dst.Spec.DataPlane.Ref)
 			}
 
-			require.Equal(t, tc.spec.IngressClass, dst.Spec.IngressClass)
+			require.Equal(t, tc.expectedIngressClass, dst.Spec.IngressClass)
 
 			if tc.spec.WatchNamespaces != nil {
 				require.NotNil(t, dst.Spec.WatchNamespaces)