diff --git a/.github/workflows/approve-to-run-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/approve-to-run-ci.yml
index b74d1c9..0431095 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/approve-to-run-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/approve-to-run-ci.yml
@@ -17,16 +17,34 @@ jobs:
           - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
             with:
               go-version: ${{ matrix.go-version }}
+              cache: true
+              cache-dependency-path: go.sum
           - name: Checkout code
             uses: actions/checkout@master
           - name: golangci-lint
             uses: golangci/golangci-lint-action@v3
             with:
               version: latest
-              args: --timeout=5m
+          - name: Run golangci-lint
+            run: make lint
+    tidy:
+        name: Go mod tidy
+        needs: [golangci-lint]
+        runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+        steps:
+          - name: Checkout code
+            uses: actions/checkout@master
+          - name: Set up Go
+            uses: actions/setup-go@v4
+            with:
+              go-version: 1.21.x
+              cache: true
+              cache-dependency-path: go.sum
+          - name: Run go mod tidy
+            run: make tidy
     codecov:
         # golandci-lint need to be run before codecov and succeed
-        needs: golangci-lint
+        needs: [golangci-lint, tidy]
         name: Code Coverage
         if: github.repository == 'meshery/meshery-operator'
         runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
@@ -37,10 +55,12 @@ jobs:
             uses: actions/setup-go@v4
             with:
               go-version: 1.21.x
+              cache: true
+              cache-dependency-path: go.sum
           - name: Set up test-env
             run: make test-env
           - name: Run unit tests
-            run: go test --short ./... -race -coverprofile=coverage.txt -covermode=atomic
+            run: make test
           - name: Upload coverage to Codecov
             if: github.repository == 'meshery/meshery-operator'
             uses: codecov/codecov-action@v3
@@ -51,7 +71,7 @@ jobs:
     # if review comment includes changes requested, do not run the tests
     # if review comment includes approved or LGTM, run the tests
     build:
-        needs: [golangci-lint,codecov]
+        needs: [golangci-lint, tidy, codecov]
         name: Build
         runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
         steps:
@@ -61,5 +81,7 @@ jobs:
             uses: actions/setup-go@v4
             with:
               go-version: 1.21.x
+              cache: true
+              cache-dependency-path: go.sum
           - name: Build
             run: make build
diff --git a/.golangci.yml b/.golangci.yml
index 897f76f..e76d099 100644
--- a/.golangci.yml
+++ b/.golangci.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 linters-settings:
+  go-mod-tidy:
+    enabled: true
   gci:
     enabled: true
     max-len: 120
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ linters:
     - testpackage
 
 run:
+  timeout: 5m
   enable-cache: true
   skip-dirs:
     - vendor
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0494032..c93ca0e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -107,19 +107,17 @@ vet: ## Run go vet against code.
 	go vet ./...
 
 # Run go lint against code
-check: golint
-golint: get-lint
-golint: run-lint
+.PHONY: lint
+lint:
+	golangci-lint run -c .golangci.yml -v ./...
 
-run-lint:
-	go run github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint run
-
-get-lint:
-	go get github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint@v1.50.1
+.PHONY: tidy
+tidy: ## Run go mod tidy against code.
+	go mod tidy
 
 .PHONY: test
 test: manifests generate fmt vet ## Run tests.
-	go test ./... -coverprofile cover.out
+	go test --short ./... -race -coverprofile=coverage.txt -covermode=atomic
 
 ##@ Build
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e36eca7..2512ca9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 [![Docker Pulls](https://img.shields.io/docker/pulls/layer5/meshery-operator.svg)](https://hub.docker.com/r/layer5/meshery-operator)
 [![Go Report Card](https://goreportcard.com/badge/github.com/layer5io/meshery-operator)](https://goreportcard.com/report/github.com/layer5io/meshery-operator)
-[![Build Status](https://github.com/meshery/meshery-operator/actions/workflows/build-and-release.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/layer5io/meshery-operator/actions)
+[![Build Status](https://github.com/meshery/meshery-operator/actions/workflows/build-and-release.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/meshery/meshery-operator/actions)
 [![GitHub](https://img.shields.io/github/license/layer5io/meshery-operator.svg)](LICENSE)
 [![codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/meshery/meshery-operator/branch/master/graph/badge.svg?token=TJZ2L4JHSA)](https://codecov.io/gh/meshery/meshery-operator)
 [![Website](https://img.shields.io/website/https/layer5.io/meshery.svg)](https://layer5.io/meshery/)