diff --git a/crates/stackable-operator/CHANGELOG.md b/crates/stackable-operator/CHANGELOG.md
index 3b5f063de..10f327dbc 100644
--- a/crates/stackable-operator/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/crates/stackable-operator/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
   - [kube#1494](https://github.com/kube-rs/kube/pull/1494)
   - [kube#1504](https://github.com/kube-rs/kube/pull/1504)
 - Upgrade opentelemetry crates ([#811]).
+- Added `ProductImage.product_version()` utility function ([#817])
 
 ### Fixed
 
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 [#804]: https://github.com/stackabletech/operator-rs/pull/804
 [#811]: https://github.com/stackabletech/operator-rs/pull/811
 [#812]: https://github.com/stackabletech/operator-rs/pull/812
+[#817]: https://github.com/stackabletech/operator-rs/pull/817
 
 ## [0.69.3] - 2024-06-12
 
diff --git a/crates/stackable-operator/src/commons/product_image_selection.rs b/crates/stackable-operator/src/commons/product_image_selection.rs
index acec797c9..a166805dc 100644
--- a/crates/stackable-operator/src/commons/product_image_selection.rs
+++ b/crates/stackable-operator/src/commons/product_image_selection.rs
@@ -161,6 +161,20 @@ impl ProductImage {
             }
         }
     }
+
+    /// The product version is always known without having to resolve the image.
+    pub fn product_version(&self) -> &str {
+        match &self.image_selection {
+            ProductImageSelection::Custom(ProductImageCustom {
+                product_version: pv,
+                ..
+            }) => pv,
+            ProductImageSelection::StackableVersion(ProductImageStackableVersion {
+                product_version: pv,
+                ..
+            }) => pv,
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]