diff --git a/cmd/k8s-operator/deploy/chart/templates/deployment.yaml b/cmd/k8s-operator/deploy/chart/templates/deployment.yaml
index c428d5d1e..2653f2159 100644
--- a/cmd/k8s-operator/deploy/chart/templates/deployment.yaml
+++ b/cmd/k8s-operator/deploy/chart/templates/deployment.yaml
@@ -81,6 +81,14 @@ spec:
             - name: PROXY_DEFAULT_CLASS
               value: {{ .Values.proxyConfig.defaultProxyClass }}
             {{- end }}
+            - name: POD_NAME
+              valueFrom:
+                fieldRef:
+                  fieldPath: metadata.name
+            - name: POD_UID
+              valueFrom:
+                fieldRef:
+                  fieldPath: metadata.uid
             {{- with .Values.operatorConfig.extraEnv }}
             {{- toYaml . | nindent 12 }}
             {{- end }}
diff --git a/cmd/k8s-operator/deploy/manifests/operator.yaml b/cmd/k8s-operator/deploy/manifests/operator.yaml
index c6d7deef5..4035afaba 100644
--- a/cmd/k8s-operator/deploy/manifests/operator.yaml
+++ b/cmd/k8s-operator/deploy/manifests/operator.yaml
@@ -4783,6 +4783,14 @@ spec:
                       value: "false"
                     - name: PROXY_FIREWALL_MODE
                       value: auto
+                    - name: POD_NAME
+                      valueFrom:
+                        fieldRef:
+                            fieldPath: metadata.name
+                    - name: POD_UID
+                      valueFrom:
+                        fieldRef:
+                            fieldPath: metadata.uid
                   image: tailscale/k8s-operator:unstable
                   imagePullPolicy: Always
                   name: operator