diff --git a/src/operator/api/v2alpha1/approved_clientintents_types.go b/src/operator/api/v2alpha1/approved_clientintents_types.go
index 69da63399..a09002f10 100644
--- a/src/operator/api/v2alpha1/approved_clientintents_types.go
+++ b/src/operator/api/v2alpha1/approved_clientintents_types.go
@@ -206,13 +206,13 @@ func approvedClientIntentsStatusToCloudFormat(approvedClientIntents ApprovedClie
 
 	status.IstioStatus.ServiceAccountName = toPtrOrNil(serviceAccountName)
 	isSharedValue, ok := approvedClientIntents.Annotations[OtterizeSharedServiceAccountAnnotation]
-	if !ok {
-		return nil, false, errors.Errorf("missing annotation shared service account for client intents %s", approvedClientIntents.Name)
-	}
-
-	isShared, err := strconv.ParseBool(isSharedValue)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, errors.Errorf("failed to parse shared service account annotation for client intents %s", approvedClientIntents.Name)
+	isShared := false
+	if ok {
+		parsedIsShared, err := strconv.ParseBool(isSharedValue)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, false, errors.Errorf("failed to parse shared service account annotation for client intents %s", approvedClientIntents.Name)
+		}
+		isShared = parsedIsShared
 	}
 	status.IstioStatus.IsServiceAccountShared = lo.ToPtr(isShared)
 
diff --git a/src/operator/api/v2beta1/approved_clientintents_types.go b/src/operator/api/v2beta1/approved_clientintents_types.go
index e5bcf573f..08d0201ee 100644
--- a/src/operator/api/v2beta1/approved_clientintents_types.go
+++ b/src/operator/api/v2beta1/approved_clientintents_types.go
@@ -207,13 +207,13 @@ func approvedClientIntentsStatusToCloudFormat(approvedClientIntents ApprovedClie
 
 	status.IstioStatus.ServiceAccountName = toPtrOrNil(serviceAccountName)
 	isSharedValue, ok := approvedClientIntents.Annotations[OtterizeSharedServiceAccountAnnotation]
-	if !ok {
-		return nil, false, errors.Errorf("missing annotation shared service account for client intents %s", approvedClientIntents.Name)
-	}
-
-	isShared, err := strconv.ParseBool(isSharedValue)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, errors.Errorf("failed to parse shared service account annotation for client intents %s", approvedClientIntents.Name)
+	isShared := false
+	if ok {
+		parsedIsShared, err := strconv.ParseBool(isSharedValue)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, false, errors.Errorf("failed to parse shared service account annotation for client intents %s", approvedClientIntents.Name)
+		}
+		isShared = parsedIsShared
 	}
 	status.IstioStatus.IsServiceAccountShared = lo.ToPtr(isShared)