diff --git a/testutils/integration/integration.go b/testutils/integration/integration.go
index d1eb58f9..6dc3e3a2 100644
--- a/testutils/integration/integration.go
+++ b/testutils/integration/integration.go
@@ -710,6 +710,7 @@ func StartEnvTest(projectRootDir string, celValidationEnabled bool) (*envtest.En
 	testEnv := &envtest.Environment{
 		CRDDirectoryPaths: []string{
 			filepath.Join(projectRootDir, "config", "crd", "bases"),
+			filepath.Join(projectRootDir, "config", "crd", "external"),
 		},
 		ErrorIfCRDPathMissing:    true,
 		AttachControlPlaneOutput: attachControlPlaneOutput,
diff --git a/testutils/options.go b/testutils/options.go
index 5bb422c7..ef381d29 100644
--- a/testutils/options.go
+++ b/testutils/options.go
@@ -146,6 +146,13 @@ func WithNATSStateReady() NATSOption {
 	}
 }
 
+func WithNATSStateWarning() NATSOption {
+	return func(nats *v1alpha1.NATS) error {
+		nats.Status.State = v1alpha1.StateWarning
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
 func WithNATSStateProcessing() NATSOption {
 	return func(nats *v1alpha1.NATS) error {
 		nats.Status.State = v1alpha1.StateProcessing