diff --git a/internal/kubernetes/operator/install.go b/internal/kubernetes/operator/install.go
index 38ddfa6d71..32dfff6945 100644
--- a/internal/kubernetes/operator/install.go
+++ b/internal/kubernetes/operator/install.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	akov2common "github.com/mongodb/mongodb-atlas-kubernetes/v2/api/v1/common"
 	"go.mongodb.org/atlas-sdk/v20241113004/admin"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/util/retry"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 )
 
@@ -150,7 +151,6 @@ func (i *Install) ensureProject(orgID, projectName string) (*admin.Group, error)
 		Group: &admin.Group{
 			Name:                      projectName,
 			OrgId:                     orgID,
-			RegionUsageRestrictions:   pointer.Get(""),
 			WithDefaultAlertsSettings: pointer.Get(true),
 		},
 	})
@@ -284,10 +284,17 @@ func (i *Install) ensureCredentialsAssignment(ctx context.Context) error {
 			}
 		}
 
-		project.Spec.ConnectionSecret = connectionSecret
+		err := retry.RetryOnConflict(retry.DefaultRetry, func() error {
+			if err := i.kubectl.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(&project), &project); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			project.Spec.ConnectionSecret = connectionSecret
 
-		if err = i.kubectl.Update(ctx, &project); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to update atlas project %s", i.projectName)
+			return i.kubectl.Update(ctx, &project)
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to update atlas project %s: %w", i.projectName, err)
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/e2e/atlas/kubernetes_operator_install_test.go b/test/e2e/atlas/kubernetes_operator_install_test.go
index cc8b0e8032..f9c1a58b23 100644
--- a/test/e2e/atlas/kubernetes_operator_install_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/atlas/kubernetes_operator_install_test.go
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ func TestKubernetesOperatorInstall(t *testing.T) {
 			"install",
 			"--operatorVersion", "1.1.0")
 		cmd.Env = os.Environ()
-		resp, inErr := e2e.RunAndGetStdOut(cmd)
-		require.Error(t, inErr, string(resp))
-		assert.Equal(t, "Error: version 1.1.0 is not supported\n", string(resp))
+		_, inErr := e2e.RunAndGetStdOutAndErr(cmd)
+		require.Error(t, inErr)
+		assert.Equal(t, "Error: version 1.1.0 is not supported\n (exit status 1)", inErr.Error())
 	})
 
 	t.Run("should failed to install a non-existing version of the operator", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ func TestKubernetesOperatorInstall(t *testing.T) {
 			"install",
 			"--operatorVersion", "100.0.0")
 		cmd.Env = os.Environ()
-		resp, inErr := e2e.RunAndGetStdOut(cmd)
-		require.Error(t, inErr, string(resp))
-		assert.Equal(t, "Error: version 100.0.0 is not supported\n", string(resp))
+		_, inErr := e2e.RunAndGetStdOutAndErr(cmd)
+		require.Error(t, inErr)
+		assert.Equal(t, "Error: version 100.0.0 is not supported\n (exit status 1)", inErr.Error())
 	})
 
 	t.Run("should failed when unable to setup connection to the cluster", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ func TestKubernetesOperatorInstall(t *testing.T) {
 			"install",
 			"--kubeconfig", "/path/to/non/existing/config")
 		cmd.Env = os.Environ()
-		resp, inErr := e2e.RunAndGetStdOut(cmd)
-		require.Error(t, inErr, string(resp))
-		assert.Equal(t, "Error: unable to prepare client configuration: invalid configuration: no configuration has been provided, try setting KUBERNETES_MASTER environment variable\n", string(resp))
+		_, inErr := e2e.RunAndGetStdOutAndErr(cmd)
+		require.Error(t, inErr)
+		assert.Equal(t, "Error: unable to prepare client configuration: invalid configuration: no configuration has been provided, try setting KUBERNETES_MASTER environment variable\n (exit status 1)", inErr.Error())
 	})
 
 	t.Run("should install operator with default options", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -179,8 +179,8 @@ func TestKubernetesOperatorInstall(t *testing.T) {
 			"--import",
 			"--kubeContext", context)
 		cmd.Env = os.Environ()
-		resp, inErr := e2e.RunAndGetStdOut(cmd)
-		require.NoError(t, inErr, string(resp))
+		resp, inErr := e2e.RunAndGetStdOutAndErr(cmd)
+		require.NoError(t, inErr)
 		assert.Equal(t, "Atlas Kubernetes Operator installed successfully\n", string(resp))
 
 		checkDeployment(t, operator, operatorNamespace)
@@ -296,8 +296,8 @@ func TestKubernetesOperatorInstall(t *testing.T) {
 			deployment,
 			false,
 		))
-		assert.Contains(t, deployment.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Args, "--resourceDeletionProtection=false")
-		assert.Contains(t, deployment.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Args, "--subresourceDeletionProtection=false")
+		assert.Contains(t, deployment.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Args, "--object-deletion-protection=false")
+		assert.Contains(t, deployment.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Args, "--subobject-deletion-protection=false")
 
 		cleanUpKeys(t, operator, operatorNamespace, cliPath)
 	})