diff --git a/internal/controllers/common/resource_definitions/resource_definitions.go b/internal/controllers/common/resource_definitions/resource_definitions.go
index 5f46968b..5a4e5e0e 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/common/resource_definitions/resource_definitions.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/common/resource_definitions/resource_definitions.go
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ const (
 
 func NewDeploymentForCR(cr *operatorv1beta1.Cryostat, specs *ServiceSpecs, imageTags *ImageTags,
 	tls *TLSConfig, fsGroup int64, openshift bool) *appsv1.Deployment {
+	// Force one replica to avoid lock file and PVC contention
+	replicas := int32(1)
 	return &appsv1.Deployment{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 			Name:      cr.Name,
@@ -136,6 +138,10 @@ func NewDeploymentForCR(cr *operatorv1beta1.Cryostat, specs *ServiceSpecs, image
 				},
 				Spec: *NewPodForCR(cr, specs, imageTags, tls, fsGroup, openshift),
 			},
+			Replicas: &replicas,
+			Strategy: appsv1.DeploymentStrategy{
+				Type: appsv1.RecreateDeploymentStrategyType,
+			},
 		},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/controllers/cryostat_controller.go b/internal/controllers/cryostat_controller.go
index 625d939c..65064def 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/cryostat_controller.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/cryostat_controller.go
@@ -500,10 +500,10 @@ func (r *CryostatReconciler) createOrUpdateDeployment(ctx context.Context, deplo
 			// Return error so deployment can be recreated
 			return errSelectorModified
 		}
-		// Set the replica count, if managed by the operator
-		if deployCopy.Spec.Replicas != nil {
-			deploy.Spec.Replicas = deployCopy.Spec.Replicas
-		}
+		// Set the replica count and update strategy
+		deploy.Spec.Replicas = deployCopy.Spec.Replicas
+		deploy.Spec.Strategy = deployCopy.Spec.Strategy
+
 		// Update pod template spec to propagate any changes from Cryostat CR
 		deploy.Spec.Template.Spec = deployCopy.Spec.Template.Spec
 		// Update pod template metadata
diff --git a/internal/controllers/cryostat_controller_test.go b/internal/controllers/cryostat_controller_test.go
index 641ede60..0831ea22 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/cryostat_controller_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/cryostat_controller_test.go
@@ -309,7 +309,8 @@ var _ = Describe("CryostatController", func() {
 
 				// Deployment Selector is immutable
 				Expect(deploy.Spec.Selector).To(Equal(oldDeploy.Spec.Selector))
-				Expect(deploy.Spec.Replicas).To(Equal(oldDeploy.Spec.Replicas))
+				Expect(deploy.Spec.Replicas).To(Equal(&[]int32{1}[0]))
+				Expect(deploy.Spec.Strategy).To(Equal(test.NewMainDeploymentStrategy()))
 			})
 			Context("with a different selector", func() {
 				BeforeEach(func() {
@@ -2578,6 +2579,9 @@ func (t *cryostatTestInput) checkMainDeployment() {
 	}))
 	Expect(metav1.IsControlledBy(deployment, cr)).To(BeTrue())
 	Expect(deployment.Spec.Selector).To(Equal(test.NewMainDeploymentSelector()))
+	Expect(deployment.Spec.Replicas).ToNot(BeNil())
+	Expect(*deployment.Spec.Replicas).To(Equal(int32(1)))
+	Expect(deployment.Spec.Strategy).To(Equal(test.NewMainDeploymentStrategy()))
 
 	// compare Pod template
 	t.checkMainPodTemplate(deployment, cr)
@@ -2669,7 +2673,9 @@ func (t *cryostatTestInput) checkReportsDeployment() {
 	}))
 	Expect(metav1.IsControlledBy(deployment, cr)).To(BeTrue())
 	Expect(deployment.Spec.Selector).To(Equal(test.NewReportsDeploymentSelector()))
+	Expect(deployment.Spec.Replicas).ToNot(BeNil())
 	Expect(*deployment.Spec.Replicas).To(Equal(t.reportReplicas))
+	Expect(deployment.Spec.Strategy).To(BeZero())
 
 	// compare Pod template
 	template := deployment.Spec.Template
diff --git a/internal/test/resources.go b/internal/test/resources.go
index 2d126064..b4a0060a 100644
--- a/internal/test/resources.go
+++ b/internal/test/resources.go
@@ -1720,6 +1720,12 @@ func NewReportsDeploymentSelector() *metav1.LabelSelector {
 	}
 }
 
+func NewMainDeploymentStrategy() appsv1.DeploymentStrategy {
+	return appsv1.DeploymentStrategy{
+		Type: appsv1.RecreateDeploymentStrategyType,
+	}
+}
+
 func OtherDeployment() *appsv1.Deployment {
 	replicas := int32(2)
 	return &appsv1.Deployment{