diff --git a/changelog/fragments/01-operator-sdk-binary-variable.yaml b/changelog/fragments/01-operator-sdk-binary-variable.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8bc45f9cff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/fragments/01-operator-sdk-binary-variable.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# entries is a list of entries to include in
+# release notes and/or the migration guide
+entries:
+  - description: >
+      Add a Parameter to the Makefile to allow modifying the
+      'operator-sdk' binary before running any commands. If
+      necessary, a specific version of the SDK can be downloaded
+      for cases when the project has yet to upgrade to a later or
+      latest version.
+    kind: addition
+    breaking: false
diff --git a/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go b/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go
index 772d00e90d..60f3421594 100644
--- a/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go
+++ b/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/templates/config/manifests"
 	"github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/internal/util/projutil"
+	"github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/internal/version"
 )
 
 // Version of `opm` to download and use for building index images.
@@ -68,7 +69,15 @@ func (s *initSubcommand) Scaffold(fs machinery.Filesystem) error {
 		}
 		projectName = strings.ToLower(filepath.Base(dir))
 	}
-	makefileBytes = append([]byte(fmt.Sprintf(makefileBundleVarFragment, s.config.GetDomain(), projectName)), makefileBytes...)
+	makefileBytes = append([]byte(fmt.Sprintf(makefileBundleVarFragment, s.config.GetDomain(), projectName, strings.Trim(version.Version, "+git"))), makefileBytes...)
+
+	// Append SDK recipes.
+	switch operatorType {
+	case projutil.OperatorTypeGo:
+		makefileBytes = append(makefileBytes, []byte(makefileSDKFragmentGo)...)
+	default:
+		makefileBytes = append(makefileBytes, []byte(makefileSDKFragmentNonGo)...)
+	}
 
 	// Append bundle recipes.
 	switch operatorType {
@@ -168,24 +177,65 @@ USE_IMAGE_DIGESTS ?= false
 ifeq ($(USE_IMAGE_DIGESTS), true)
 	BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS += --use-image-digests
 endif
+
+# Set the Operator SDK version to use. By default, what is installed on the system is used.
+# This is useful for CI or a project to utilize a specific version of the operator-sdk toolkit.
+OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION ?= %[3]s
+`
+
+	makefileSDKFragmentGo = `
+.PHONY: operator-sdk
+OPERATOR_SDK ?= $(LOCALBIN)/operator-sdk
+operator-sdk: ## Download operator-sdk locally if necessary.
+ifeq (,$(wildcard $(OPERATOR_SDK)))
+ifeq (, $(shell which operator-sdk 2>/dev/null))
+	@{ \
+	set -e ;\
+	mkdir -p $(dir $(OPERATOR_SDK)) ;\
+	OS=$(shell go env GOOS) && ARCH=$(shell go env GOARCH) && \
+	curl -sSLo $(OPERATOR_SDK) https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/releases/download/$(OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION)/operator-sdk_$${OS}_$${ARCH} ;\
+	chmod +x $(OPERATOR_SDK) ;\
+	}
+else
+OPERATOR_SDK = $(shell which operator-sdk)
+endif
+endif
+`
+
+	makefileSDKFragmentNonGo = `
+.PHONY: operator-sdk
+OPERATOR_SDK ?= ./bin/operator-sdk
+operator-sdk: ## Download operator-sdk locally if necessary.
+ifeq (,$(wildcard $(OPERATOR_SDK)))
+ifeq (, $(shell which operator-sdk 2>/dev/null))
+	@{ \
+	set -e ;\
+	mkdir -p $(dir $(OPERATOR_SDK)) ;\
+	curl -sSLo $(OPERATOR_SDK) https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/releases/download/$(OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION)/operator-sdk_$(OS)_$(ARCH) ;\
+	chmod +x $(OPERATOR_SDK) ;\
+	}
+else
+OPERATOR_SDK = $(shell which operator-sdk)
+endif
+endif
 `
 
 	makefileBundleFragmentGo = `
 .PHONY: bundle
-bundle: manifests kustomize ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
-	operator-sdk generate kustomize manifests -q
+bundle: manifests kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests -q
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=$(IMG)
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | operator-sdk generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
-	operator-sdk bundle validate ./bundle
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | $(OPERATOR_SDK) generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) bundle validate ./bundle
 `
 
 	makefileBundleFragmentNonGo = `
 .PHONY: bundle
-bundle: kustomize ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
-	operator-sdk generate kustomize manifests -q
+bundle: kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests -q
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=$(IMG)
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | operator-sdk generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
-	operator-sdk bundle validate ./bundle
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | $(OPERATOR_SDK) generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) bundle validate ./bundle
 `
 
 	makefileBundleBuildPushFragment = `
diff --git a/internal/testutils/olm.go b/internal/testutils/olm.go
index 546b43d6be..5acdfb5876 100644
--- a/internal/testutils/olm.go
+++ b/internal/testutils/olm.go
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ PKG_MAN_OPTS ?= $(PKG_FROM_VERSION) $(PKG_CHANNELS) $(PKG_IS_DEFAULT_CHANNEL)
 
 # Generate package manifests.
 packagemanifests: kustomize %s
-	operator-sdk generate kustomize manifests -q --interactive=false
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests -q --interactive=false
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=$(IMG)
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | operator-sdk generate packagemanifests -q --version $(VERSION) $(PKG_MAN_OPTS)
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | $(OPERATOR_SDK) generate packagemanifests -q --version $(VERSION) $(PKG_MAN_OPTS)
 `
 
 // AddPackagemanifestsTarget will append the packagemanifests target to the makefile
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func (tc TestContext) AddPackagemanifestsTarget(operatorType projutil.OperatorTy
 func (tc TestContext) DisableManifestsInteractiveMode() error {
 	// Todo: check if we cannot improve it since the replace/content will exists in the
 	// pkgmanifest target if it be scaffolded before this call
-	content := "operator-sdk generate kustomize manifests"
+	content := "$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests"
 	replace := content + " --interactive=false"
 	return ReplaceInFile(filepath.Join(tc.Dir, "Makefile"), content, replace)
 }
diff --git a/testdata/ansible/memcached-operator/Makefile b/testdata/ansible/memcached-operator/Makefile
index 8ddcd581d3..b97a5febd9 100644
--- a/testdata/ansible/memcached-operator/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/ansible/memcached-operator/Makefile
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ ifeq ($(USE_IMAGE_DIGESTS), true)
 	BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS += --use-image-digests
 endif
 
+# Set the Operator SDK version to use. By default, what is installed on the system is used.
+# This is useful for CI or a project to utilize a specific version of the operator-sdk toolkit.
+OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION ?= v1.29.0
+
 # Image URL to use all building/pushing image targets
 IMG ?= controller:latest
 
@@ -155,12 +159,28 @@ ANSIBLE_OPERATOR = $(shell which ansible-operator)
 endif
 endif
 
+.PHONY: operator-sdk
+OPERATOR_SDK ?= ./bin/operator-sdk
+operator-sdk: ## Download operator-sdk locally if necessary.
+ifeq (,$(wildcard $(OPERATOR_SDK)))
+ifeq (, $(shell which operator-sdk 2>/dev/null))
+	@{ \
+	set -e ;\
+	mkdir -p $(dir $(OPERATOR_SDK)) ;\
+	curl -sSLo $(OPERATOR_SDK) https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/releases/download/$(OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION)/operator-sdk_$(OS)_$(ARCH) ;\
+	chmod +x $(OPERATOR_SDK) ;\
+	}
+else
+OPERATOR_SDK = $(shell which operator-sdk)
+endif
+endif
+
 .PHONY: bundle
-bundle: kustomize ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
-	operator-sdk generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
+bundle: kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=$(IMG)
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | operator-sdk generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
-	operator-sdk bundle validate ./bundle
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | $(OPERATOR_SDK) generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) bundle validate ./bundle
 
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.
diff --git a/testdata/go/v3/memcached-operator/Makefile b/testdata/go/v3/memcached-operator/Makefile
index 0ab642a456..c7010dd367 100644
--- a/testdata/go/v3/memcached-operator/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/go/v3/memcached-operator/Makefile
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ ifeq ($(USE_IMAGE_DIGESTS), true)
 	BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS += --use-image-digests
 endif
 
+# Set the Operator SDK version to use. By default, what is installed on the system is used.
+# This is useful for CI or a project to utilize a specific version of the operator-sdk toolkit.
+OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION ?= v1.29.0
+
 # Image URL to use all building/pushing image targets
 IMG ?= controller:latest
 # ENVTEST_K8S_VERSION refers to the version of kubebuilder assets to be downloaded by envtest binary.
@@ -206,12 +210,29 @@ envtest: $(ENVTEST) ## Download envtest-setup locally if necessary.
 $(ENVTEST): $(LOCALBIN)
 	test -s $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest || GOBIN=$(LOCALBIN) go install sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/tools/setup-envtest@latest
 
+.PHONY: operator-sdk
+OPERATOR_SDK ?= $(LOCALBIN)/operator-sdk
+operator-sdk: ## Download operator-sdk locally if necessary.
+ifeq (,$(wildcard $(OPERATOR_SDK)))
+ifeq (, $(shell which operator-sdk 2>/dev/null))
+	@{ \
+	set -e ;\
+	mkdir -p $(dir $(OPERATOR_SDK)) ;\
+	OS=$(shell go env GOOS) && ARCH=$(shell go env GOARCH) && \
+	curl -sSLo $(OPERATOR_SDK) https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/releases/download/$(OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION)/operator-sdk_$${OS}_$${ARCH} ;\
+	chmod +x $(OPERATOR_SDK) ;\
+	}
+else
+OPERATOR_SDK = $(shell which operator-sdk)
+endif
+endif
+
 .PHONY: bundle
-bundle: manifests kustomize ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
-	operator-sdk generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
+bundle: manifests kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=$(IMG)
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | operator-sdk generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
-	operator-sdk bundle validate ./bundle
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | $(OPERATOR_SDK) generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) bundle validate ./bundle
 
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.
diff --git a/testdata/go/v3/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile b/testdata/go/v3/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile
index 33a3fcac06..c3d71c5511 100644
--- a/testdata/go/v3/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/go/v3/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ ifeq ($(USE_IMAGE_DIGESTS), true)
 	BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS += --use-image-digests
 endif
 
+# Set the Operator SDK version to use. By default, what is installed on the system is used.
+# This is useful for CI or a project to utilize a specific version of the operator-sdk toolkit.
+OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION ?= v1.29.0
+
 # Image URL to use all building/pushing image targets
 IMG ?= controller:latest
 # ENVTEST_K8S_VERSION refers to the version of kubebuilder assets to be downloaded by envtest binary.
@@ -221,12 +225,29 @@ envtest: $(ENVTEST) ## Download envtest-setup locally if necessary.
 $(ENVTEST): $(LOCALBIN)
 	test -s $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest || GOBIN=$(LOCALBIN) go install sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/tools/setup-envtest@latest
 
+.PHONY: operator-sdk
+OPERATOR_SDK ?= $(LOCALBIN)/operator-sdk
+operator-sdk: ## Download operator-sdk locally if necessary.
+ifeq (,$(wildcard $(OPERATOR_SDK)))
+ifeq (, $(shell which operator-sdk 2>/dev/null))
+	@{ \
+	set -e ;\
+	mkdir -p $(dir $(OPERATOR_SDK)) ;\
+	OS=$(shell go env GOOS) && ARCH=$(shell go env GOARCH) && \
+	curl -sSLo $(OPERATOR_SDK) https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/releases/download/$(OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION)/operator-sdk_$${OS}_$${ARCH} ;\
+	chmod +x $(OPERATOR_SDK) ;\
+	}
+else
+OPERATOR_SDK = $(shell which operator-sdk)
+endif
+endif
+
 .PHONY: bundle
-bundle: manifests kustomize ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
-	operator-sdk generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
+bundle: manifests kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=$(IMG)
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | operator-sdk generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
-	operator-sdk bundle validate ./bundle
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | $(OPERATOR_SDK) generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) bundle validate ./bundle
 
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.
diff --git a/testdata/go/v4-alpha/memcached-operator/Makefile b/testdata/go/v4-alpha/memcached-operator/Makefile
index 83cbebcd66..a5edd203c0 100644
--- a/testdata/go/v4-alpha/memcached-operator/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/go/v4-alpha/memcached-operator/Makefile
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ ifeq ($(USE_IMAGE_DIGESTS), true)
 	BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS += --use-image-digests
 endif
 
+# Set the Operator SDK version to use. By default, what is installed on the system is used.
+# This is useful for CI or a project to utilize a specific version of the operator-sdk toolkit.
+OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION ?= v1.29.0
+
 # Image URL to use all building/pushing image targets
 IMG ?= controller:latest
 # ENVTEST_K8S_VERSION refers to the version of kubebuilder assets to be downloaded by envtest binary.
@@ -206,12 +210,29 @@ envtest: $(ENVTEST) ## Download envtest-setup locally if necessary.
 $(ENVTEST): $(LOCALBIN)
 	test -s $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest || GOBIN=$(LOCALBIN) go install sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/tools/setup-envtest@latest
 
+.PHONY: operator-sdk
+OPERATOR_SDK ?= $(LOCALBIN)/operator-sdk
+operator-sdk: ## Download operator-sdk locally if necessary.
+ifeq (,$(wildcard $(OPERATOR_SDK)))
+ifeq (, $(shell which operator-sdk 2>/dev/null))
+	@{ \
+	set -e ;\
+	mkdir -p $(dir $(OPERATOR_SDK)) ;\
+	OS=$(shell go env GOOS) && ARCH=$(shell go env GOARCH) && \
+	curl -sSLo $(OPERATOR_SDK) https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/releases/download/$(OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION)/operator-sdk_$${OS}_$${ARCH} ;\
+	chmod +x $(OPERATOR_SDK) ;\
+	}
+else
+OPERATOR_SDK = $(shell which operator-sdk)
+endif
+endif
+
 .PHONY: bundle
-bundle: manifests kustomize ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
-	operator-sdk generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
+bundle: manifests kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=$(IMG)
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | operator-sdk generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
-	operator-sdk bundle validate ./bundle
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | $(OPERATOR_SDK) generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) bundle validate ./bundle
 
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.
diff --git a/testdata/go/v4-alpha/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile b/testdata/go/v4-alpha/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile
index fbc300bb4d..6d4ca52974 100644
--- a/testdata/go/v4-alpha/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/go/v4-alpha/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ ifeq ($(USE_IMAGE_DIGESTS), true)
 	BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS += --use-image-digests
 endif
 
+# Set the Operator SDK version to use. By default, what is installed on the system is used.
+# This is useful for CI or a project to utilize a specific version of the operator-sdk toolkit.
+OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION ?= v1.29.0
+
 # Image URL to use all building/pushing image targets
 IMG ?= controller:latest
 # ENVTEST_K8S_VERSION refers to the version of kubebuilder assets to be downloaded by envtest binary.
@@ -221,12 +225,29 @@ envtest: $(ENVTEST) ## Download envtest-setup locally if necessary.
 $(ENVTEST): $(LOCALBIN)
 	test -s $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest || GOBIN=$(LOCALBIN) go install sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/tools/setup-envtest@latest
 
+.PHONY: operator-sdk
+OPERATOR_SDK ?= $(LOCALBIN)/operator-sdk
+operator-sdk: ## Download operator-sdk locally if necessary.
+ifeq (,$(wildcard $(OPERATOR_SDK)))
+ifeq (, $(shell which operator-sdk 2>/dev/null))
+	@{ \
+	set -e ;\
+	mkdir -p $(dir $(OPERATOR_SDK)) ;\
+	OS=$(shell go env GOOS) && ARCH=$(shell go env GOARCH) && \
+	curl -sSLo $(OPERATOR_SDK) https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/releases/download/$(OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION)/operator-sdk_$${OS}_$${ARCH} ;\
+	chmod +x $(OPERATOR_SDK) ;\
+	}
+else
+OPERATOR_SDK = $(shell which operator-sdk)
+endif
+endif
+
 .PHONY: bundle
-bundle: manifests kustomize ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
-	operator-sdk generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
+bundle: manifests kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=$(IMG)
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | operator-sdk generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
-	operator-sdk bundle validate ./bundle
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | $(OPERATOR_SDK) generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) bundle validate ./bundle
 
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.
diff --git a/testdata/helm/memcached-operator/Makefile b/testdata/helm/memcached-operator/Makefile
index 89a0fc84ec..23e705c22d 100644
--- a/testdata/helm/memcached-operator/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/helm/memcached-operator/Makefile
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ ifeq ($(USE_IMAGE_DIGESTS), true)
 	BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS += --use-image-digests
 endif
 
+# Set the Operator SDK version to use. By default, what is installed on the system is used.
+# This is useful for CI or a project to utilize a specific version of the operator-sdk toolkit.
+OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION ?= v1.29.0
+
 # Image URL to use all building/pushing image targets
 IMG ?= controller:latest
 
@@ -154,12 +158,28 @@ HELM_OPERATOR = $(shell which helm-operator)
 endif
 endif
 
+.PHONY: operator-sdk
+OPERATOR_SDK ?= ./bin/operator-sdk
+operator-sdk: ## Download operator-sdk locally if necessary.
+ifeq (,$(wildcard $(OPERATOR_SDK)))
+ifeq (, $(shell which operator-sdk 2>/dev/null))
+	@{ \
+	set -e ;\
+	mkdir -p $(dir $(OPERATOR_SDK)) ;\
+	curl -sSLo $(OPERATOR_SDK) https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/releases/download/$(OPERATOR_SDK_VERSION)/operator-sdk_$(OS)_$(ARCH) ;\
+	chmod +x $(OPERATOR_SDK) ;\
+	}
+else
+OPERATOR_SDK = $(shell which operator-sdk)
+endif
+endif
+
 .PHONY: bundle
-bundle: kustomize ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
-	operator-sdk generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
+bundle: kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=$(IMG)
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | operator-sdk generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
-	operator-sdk bundle validate ./bundle
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/manifests | $(OPERATOR_SDK) generate bundle $(BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS)
+	$(OPERATOR_SDK) bundle validate ./bundle
 
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.