diff --git a/hack/defaultbackupcr.yaml b/hack/defaultbackupcr.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..471bae4697
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hack/defaultbackupcr.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+apiVersion: config.openshift.io/v1alpha1
+kind: Backup
+metadata:
+  name: testbackup
+  annotations:
+    default: "true"
+spec:
+  etcd:
+    schedule: "20 4 * * *"
+    timeZone: "UTC"
+    retentionPolicy:
+      retentionType: RetentionNumber
+      retentionNumber:
+        maxNumberOfBackups: 5
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/backuprestore/backupnoconfig.go b/pkg/cmd/backuprestore/backupnoconfig.go
index e5a9656ff7..8c44847c84 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/backuprestore/backupnoconfig.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/backuprestore/backupnoconfig.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 
 type backupNoConfig struct {
 	snapshotExist bool
+	retention     string
 	backupOptions
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/operator/periodicbackupcontroller/periodicbackupcontroller.go b/pkg/operator/periodicbackupcontroller/periodicbackupcontroller.go
index 47002712a5..e9edf75f90 100644
--- a/pkg/operator/periodicbackupcontroller/periodicbackupcontroller.go
+++ b/pkg/operator/periodicbackupcontroller/periodicbackupcontroller.go
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ func (c *PeriodicBackupController) sync(ctx context.Context, _ factory.SyncConte
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("PeriodicBackupController could not list backup CRDs, error was: %w", err)
 	}
+	// skip if default backup enabled
+	if v1.HasAnnotation(backups.Items[0].ObjectMeta, "default") {
+		klog.V(4).Info("PeriodicBackupController is skipped due to default backup being enabled")
+		return nil
+	}
 
 	for _, item := range backups.Items {
 		err := reconcileCronJob(ctx, cronJobsClient, item, c.operatorImagePullSpec)