diff --git a/pkg/operator/workloads/api_workload.go b/pkg/operator/workloads/api_workload.go
index 7c50edb519..85c581c6a3 100644
--- a/pkg/operator/workloads/api_workload.go
+++ b/pkg/operator/workloads/api_workload.go
@@ -109,6 +109,10 @@ func (aw *APIWorkload) Start(ctx *context.Context) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if k8sDeloyment != nil && k8sDeloyment.Status.ReadyReplicas == 0 {
+		config.Kubernetes.DeleteDeployment(k8sDeloymentName)
+	}
+
 	_, err = config.Kubernetes.ApplyDeployment(deploymentSpec)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err