diff --git a/helm/mysql-operator/templates/service_account_operator.yaml b/helm/mysql-operator/templates/service_account_operator.yaml
index e8e30c55..1558b178 100644
--- a/helm/mysql-operator/templates/service_account_operator.yaml
+++ b/helm/mysql-operator/templates/service_account_operator.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{{- $disable_lookups:= .Values.disableLookups }}
 {{- $install_namespace := .Release.Namespace }}
 {{- if and (.Release.IsInstall) (eq $install_namespace "default") }}
   {{ fail "Please provide a namespace with -n/--namespace . The operator cannot be installed in the 'default' namespace" }}
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ imagePullSecrets:
   {{- if not $secret_name }}
     {{- fail "image.pullSecrets.secretName is required when pull secrets are enabled" }}
   {{- end }}
-  {{- if not (lookup "v1" "Secret" $install_namespace $secret_name) }}
+  {{- if and (not $disable_lookups) (not (lookup "v1" "Secret" $install_namespace $secret_name)) }}
     {{- $err := printf "image.pullSecrets.secretName: secret '%s' not found in namespace '%s'" $secret_name $install_namespace }}
     {{- fail $err }}
   {{- end }}
diff --git a/helm/mysql-operator/values.yaml b/helm/mysql-operator/values.yaml
index 8b16f615..69e47de5 100644
--- a/helm/mysql-operator/values.yaml
+++ b/helm/mysql-operator/values.yaml
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ image:
     enabled: false
     secretName:
 
+disableLookups: false
+
 envs:
     imagesPullPolicy: IfNotPresent
     imagesDefaultRegistry: