diff --git a/pkg/config/v1alpha1/types.go b/pkg/config/v1alpha1/types.go
index c25476ab4c..87216724e8 100644
--- a/pkg/config/v1alpha1/types.go
+++ b/pkg/config/v1alpha1/types.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ type ControllerConfiguration struct {
 
 	// LeaderElection returns the LeaderElection config
 	// +optional
-	LeaderElection configv1alpha1.LeaderElectionConfiguration `json:"leaderElection,omitempty"`
+	LeaderElection *configv1alpha1.LeaderElectionConfiguration `json:"leaderElection,omitempty"`
 
 	// CacheNamespace returns the namespace for the controller
 	// +optional