diff --git a/pkg/kudoctl/cmd/init/crds.go b/pkg/kudoctl/cmd/init/crds.go
index a4141a296..9f10c85c0 100644
--- a/pkg/kudoctl/cmd/init/crds.go
+++ b/pkg/kudoctl/cmd/init/crds.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func generateOperator() *apiextv1beta1.CustomResourceDefinition {
 		"description":       apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{Type: "string"},
 		"kubernetesVersion": apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{Type: "string"},
 		"kudoVersion":       apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{Type: "string"},
-		"maintainers": apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{
+		"maintainers": apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{Type: "object",
 			Items: &apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaPropsOrArray{Schema: &apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{
 				Type:       "object",
 				Properties: maintainers,
@@ -109,9 +109,8 @@ func generateOperator() *apiextv1beta1.CustomResourceDefinition {
 		"spec":       apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{Properties: specProps, Type: "object"},
 		"status":     apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{Type: "object"},
 	}
-
 	crd.Spec.Validation = &apiextv1beta1.CustomResourceValidation{
-		OpenAPIV3Schema: &apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{
+		OpenAPIV3Schema: &apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{Type: "object",
 			Properties: validationProps,
 		},
 	}
@@ -180,7 +179,7 @@ func generateOperatorVersion() *apiextv1beta1.CustomResourceDefinition {
 	}
 
 	crd.Spec.Validation = &apiextv1beta1.CustomResourceValidation{
-		OpenAPIV3Schema: &apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{
+		OpenAPIV3Schema: &apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{Type: "object",
 			Properties: validationProps,
 		},
 	}
@@ -233,7 +232,7 @@ func generateInstance() *apiextv1beta1.CustomResourceDefinition {
 	}
 
 	crd.Spec.Validation = &apiextv1beta1.CustomResourceValidation{
-		OpenAPIV3Schema: &apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{
+		OpenAPIV3Schema: &apiextv1beta1.JSONSchemaProps{Type: "object",
 			Properties: validationProps,
 		},
 	}
@@ -267,6 +266,10 @@ func generateCrd(kind string, plural string) *apiextv1beta1.CustomResourceDefini
 			StoredVersions: []string{},
 		},
 	}
+	// below is needed if we support 1.15 CRD in v1beta1, it is deprecated within the 1.15
+	// for 1.16 it is removed and functions as if preserve == false
+	// preserveFields := false
+	// crd.Spec.PreserveUnknownFields = &preserveFields
 	return crd
 }