diff --git a/config/dependencies/istio/istio-operator.yaml b/config/dependencies/istio/istio-operator.yaml
index f95685e03..7d22011f0 100644
--- a/config/dependencies/istio/istio-operator.yaml
+++ b/config/dependencies/istio/istio-operator.yaml
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ spec:
     pilot:
       enabled: true
       k8s:
+        env:
+        - name: PILOT_ENABLE_ALPHA_GATEWAY_API
+          value: "true"
         resources:
           requests:
             cpu: "0"
diff --git a/config/dependencies/istio/sail/istio.yaml b/config/dependencies/istio/sail/istio.yaml
index afe4b4480..a886bbbbd 100644
--- a/config/dependencies/istio/sail/istio.yaml
+++ b/config/dependencies/istio/sail/istio.yaml
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ spec:
   # Disable autoscaling to reduce dev resources
   values:
     pilot:
+      env:
+        PILOT_ENABLE_ALPHA_GATEWAY_API: "true"
       autoscaleEnabled: false
   rawValues:
     gateways: