diff --git a/roles/test_operator/tasks/tempest-tests.yml b/roles/test_operator/tasks/tempest-tests.yml
index 5657127f28..f6df44bd6a 100644
--- a/roles/test_operator/tasks/tempest-tests.yml
+++ b/roles/test_operator/tasks/tempest-tests.yml
@@ -34,7 +34,13 @@
 
     - name: Set variable
       ansible.builtin.set_fact:
-        cifmw_test_operator_tempest_include_list: "{{ list_allowed.allowed_tests | join('\n') }}"
+        test_operator_cr: >-
+          {{
+              test_operator_cr |
+              combine({'spec': {'tempestRun': { 'includeList':
+                      list_allowed.allowed_tests | join('\n')
+                      }}}, recursive=true)
+          }}
 
 - name: Configuring tests to be skipped via skiplist
   when: >
@@ -55,7 +61,13 @@
 
     - name: Set variable
       ansible.builtin.set_fact:
-        cifmw_test_operator_tempest_exclude_list: "{{ list_skipped.skipped_tests | join('\n') }}"
+        test_operator_cr: >-
+          {{
+              test_operator_cr |
+              combine({'spec': {'tempestRun': { 'excludeList':
+                      list_skipped.skipped_tests | join('\n')
+                      }}}, recursive=true)
+          }}
 
 - name: Ensure a secret for the cifmw private key file exists
   when: