diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/LeaderElectionManager.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/LeaderElectionManager.java
index 1509d87f2a..e36d35530a 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/LeaderElectionManager.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/LeaderElectionManager.java
@@ -67,7 +67,9 @@ private void init(LeaderElectionConfiguration config) {
                 config.getRenewDeadline(),
                 config.getRetryPeriod(),
                 leaderCallbacks(),
-                true,
+                // this is required to be false to receive stop event in all cases, thus stopLeading
+                // is called always when leadership is lost/cancelled
+                false,
                 config.getLeaseName()))
         .build();
   }