diff --git a/cmd/operator/main.go b/cmd/operator/main.go
index ecb582881..0fa96392a 100644
--- a/cmd/operator/main.go
+++ b/cmd/operator/main.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"log"
 	"os"
+	"time"
 
 	// Allows us to pull in things generated from `go generate`
 	_ "embed"
@@ -33,8 +34,10 @@ import (
 	_ "k8s.io/client-go/plugin/pkg/client/auth"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/rest"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/config/v1alpha1"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/controller"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/healthz"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
 
@@ -89,13 +92,19 @@ func addReconcilersToManager(mgr manager.Manager, restCfg *rest.Config) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	// Create a custom option with our own rate limiter
+	rateLimiter := workqueue.NewItemExponentialFailureRateLimiter(1*time.Millisecond,
+		time.Duration(opcfg.GetVdbMaxBackoffDuration())*time.Millisecond)
+	options := controller.Options{
+		RateLimiter: rateLimiter,
+	}
 	if err := (&vdb.VerticaDBReconciler{
 		Client: mgr.GetClient(),
 		Log:    ctrl.Log.WithName("controllers").WithName("VerticaDB"),
 		Scheme: mgr.GetScheme(),
 		Cfg:    restCfg,
 		EVRec:  mgr.GetEventRecorderFor(vmeta.OperatorName),
-	}).SetupWithManager(mgr); err != nil {
+	}).SetupWithManager(mgr, options); err != nil {
 		setupLog.Error(err, "unable to create controller", "controller", "VerticaDB")
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/controllers/vdb/verticadb_controller.go b/pkg/controllers/vdb/verticadb_controller.go
index 5da269e2a..0870518b3 100644
--- a/pkg/controllers/vdb/verticadb_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controllers/vdb/verticadb_controller.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/rest"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
-	"k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/controller"
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/vertica/vertica-kubernetes/pkg/events"
 	vmeta "github.com/vertica/vertica-kubernetes/pkg/meta"
 	"github.com/vertica/vertica-kubernetes/pkg/metrics"
-	"github.com/vertica/vertica-kubernetes/pkg/opcfg"
 	"github.com/vertica/vertica-kubernetes/pkg/podfacts"
 	"github.com/vertica/vertica-kubernetes/pkg/vadmin"
 	"github.com/vertica/vertica-kubernetes/pkg/vk8s"
@@ -75,12 +73,9 @@ type VerticaDBReconciler struct {
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=events,verbs=create;patch
 
 // SetupWithManager sets up the controller with the Manager.
-func (r *VerticaDBReconciler) SetupWithManager(mgr ctrl.Manager) error {
-	rateLimiter := workqueue.NewItemExponentialFailureRateLimiter(1*time.Millisecond,
-		time.Duration(opcfg.GetVdbMaxBackoffDuration())*time.Millisecond)
-
+func (r *VerticaDBReconciler) SetupWithManager(mgr ctrl.Manager, options controller.Options) error {
 	return ctrl.NewControllerManagedBy(mgr).
-		WithOptions(controller.Options{RateLimiter: rateLimiter}).
+		WithOptions(options).
 		For(&vapi.VerticaDB{}).
 		Owns(&corev1.ServiceAccount{}).
 		Owns(&rbacv1.Role{}).
diff --git a/pkg/opcfg/config.go b/pkg/opcfg/config.go
index 32134427e..d78854d08 100644
--- a/pkg/opcfg/config.go
+++ b/pkg/opcfg/config.go
@@ -378,10 +378,15 @@ func getStackTrace() zap.Option {
 
 // GetVdbMaxBackoffDuration returns maximum backoff requeue duration in milliseconds for vdb controller
 func GetVdbMaxBackoffDuration() int {
-	duration := lookupIntEnvVar("VDB_MAX_BACKOFF_DURATION", envCanNotExist)
-	if duration == 0 {
+	const envName = "VDB_MAX_BACKOFF_DURATION"
+	duration := lookupStringEnvVar(envName, envCanNotExist)
+	if duration == "" {
 		// Default value is 1000ms
 		return 1000
 	}
-	return duration
+	valInt, err := strconv.Atoi(duration)
+	if err != nil || valInt < 0 {
+		dieIfNotValid(envName)
+	}
+	return valInt
 }