diff --git a/src/K8sOperator.NET/Models/CustomResource.cs b/src/K8sOperator.NET/Models/CustomResource.cs
index 6ea901b..3c79cdc 100644
--- a/src/K8sOperator.NET/Models/CustomResource.cs
+++ b/src/K8sOperator.NET/Models/CustomResource.cs
@@ -35,13 +35,13 @@ public abstract class CustomResource<TSpec> : CustomResource, ISpec<TSpec>
 /// </summary>
 /// <typeparam name="TSpec">The type of the specification.</typeparam>
 /// <typeparam name="TStatus">The type of the status.</typeparam>
-public abstract class CustomResource<TSpec, TStatus> : CustomResource<TSpec>, IStatus<TStatus>
+public abstract class CustomResource<TSpec, TStatus> : CustomResource<TSpec>, IStatus<TStatus?>
     where TSpec : new()
-    where TStatus : new()
+    where TStatus : class
 {
     /// <summary>
     /// Gets or sets the status for the custom resource.
     /// </summary>
     [JsonPropertyName("status")]
-    public TStatus Status { get; set; } = new();
+    public TStatus? Status { get; set; }
 }
diff --git a/test/K8sOperator.NET.Tests/ControllerTests.cs b/test/K8sOperator.NET.Tests/ControllerTests.cs
index dbe9bb2..e37dc09 100644
--- a/test/K8sOperator.NET.Tests/ControllerTests.cs
+++ b/test/K8sOperator.NET.Tests/ControllerTests.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-using K8sOperator.NET.Models;
-
-namespace K8sOperator.NET.Tests;
+namespace K8sOperator.NET.Tests;
 
 public class ControllerTests
 {
@@ -79,8 +77,9 @@ public async Task Overridden_AddOrModifyAsync_Should_Call_CustomImplementation()
         // Act
         await derivedController.AddOrModifyAsync(resource, CancellationToken.None);
 
-        // Assert
-        resource.Status.Status.Should().Be("Changed");
+        
+        resource.Status.Should().NotBeNull();
+        resource.Status?.Status.Should().Be("Changed");
     }
 
     // You can also extend these tests for DeleteAsync, FinalizeAsync, BookmarkAsync, and ErrorAsync