diff --git a/scripts/cluster_power_recovery.sh b/scripts/cluster_power_recovery.sh
index de4925ac..87381d0f 100755
--- a/scripts/cluster_power_recovery.sh
+++ b/scripts/cluster_power_recovery.sh
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ RECOVERY_FLUX_APPLY_BOOTSTRAP_KUSTOMIZATION="${RECOVERY_FLUX_APPLY_BOOTSTRAP_KUS
 RECOVERY_FLUX_ROOT_APPLY_TIMEOUT="${RECOVERY_FLUX_ROOT_APPLY_TIMEOUT:-15m}"
 RECOVERY_FLUX_SUSPEND_VERIFY_ATTEMPTS="${RECOVERY_FLUX_SUSPEND_VERIFY_ATTEMPTS:-6}"
 RECOVERY_FLUX_SUSPEND_VERIFY_SLEEP_SECONDS="${RECOVERY_FLUX_SUSPEND_VERIFY_SLEEP_SECONDS:-10}"
+RECOVERY_FLUX_FINAL_RESTART_KUSTOMIZE_CONTROLLER="${RECOVERY_FLUX_FINAL_RESTART_KUSTOMIZE_CONTROLLER:-0}"
 STARTUP_SERVICE_CHECK_TIMEOUT_SECONDS="${STARTUP_SERVICE_CHECK_TIMEOUT_SECONDS:-10}"
 STARTUP_SERVICE_CHECKLIST="${STARTUP_SERVICE_CHECKLIST:-}"
 STARTUP_INCLUDE_INGRESS_CHECKS="${STARTUP_INCLUDE_INGRESS_CHECKS:-1}"
@@ -1095,9 +1096,13 @@ force_recovery_flux_suspend_with_controller_stop() {
   fi
   patch_recovery_optional_flux_suspend_without_snapshot true
 
-  run kubectl -n flux-system scale deployment kustomize-controller --replicas=1
-  kubectl -n flux-system rollout status deployment/kustomize-controller --timeout=2m || warn "kustomize-controller did not become Ready after final Flux suspend reassertion."
-  sleep "${RECOVERY_FLUX_SUSPEND_VERIFY_SLEEP_SECONDS}"
+  if [[ "${RECOVERY_FLUX_FINAL_RESTART_KUSTOMIZE_CONTROLLER}" == "1" || "${RECOVERY_FLUX_FINAL_RESTART_KUSTOMIZE_CONTROLLER}" == "true" ]]; then
+    run kubectl -n flux-system scale deployment kustomize-controller --replicas=1
+    kubectl -n flux-system rollout status deployment/kustomize-controller --timeout=2m || warn "kustomize-controller did not become Ready after final Flux suspend reassertion."
+    sleep "${RECOVERY_FLUX_SUSPEND_VERIFY_SLEEP_SECONDS}"
+  else
+    warn "Leaving kustomize-controller stopped to preserve the recovery Flux hold."
+  fi
 
   local unsuspended
   unsuspended="$(recovery_flux_unsuspended_list | paste -sd, -)"