diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9e276dd5e..6445da8c8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ ENVTEST ?= $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest
 KUSTOMIZE_VERSION ?= v4.5.7
 
 # renovate: datasource=github-releases depName=kubernetes-sigs/controller-tools
-CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.9.0
+CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.16.5
 
 KUSTOMIZE_INSTALL_SCRIPT ?= "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/master/hack/install_kustomize.sh"
 .PHONY: kustomize