diff --git a/roles/kubernetes-apps/ingress_controller/ingress_nginx/templates/ds-ingress-nginx-controller.yml.j2 b/roles/kubernetes-apps/ingress_controller/ingress_nginx/templates/ds-ingress-nginx-controller.yml.j2
index d397176cc..6a71803c1 100644
--- a/roles/kubernetes-apps/ingress_controller/ingress_nginx/templates/ds-ingress-nginx-controller.yml.j2
+++ b/roles/kubernetes-apps/ingress_controller/ingress_nginx/templates/ds-ingress-nginx-controller.yml.j2
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ spec:
             - --annotations-prefix=nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io
 {% if ingress_nginx_class is defined %}
             - --ingress-class={{ ingress_nginx_class }}
+{% else %}
+            - --watch-ingress-without-class=true
 {% endif %}
 {% if ingress_nginx_host_network %}
             - --report-node-internal-ip-address