diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index c786a25ca..c41785ff7 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -134,6 +134,11 @@ func run() error {
 	operator.OmUpdateChannel = make(chan event.GenericEvent)
 
 	klog.InitFlags(nil)
+	// Opt into the new klog behavior so that -stderrthreshold is honored even
+	// when -logtostderr=true (the default).
+	// Ref: kubernetes/klog#212, kubernetes/klog#432
+	flag.Set("legacy_stderr_threshold_behavior", "false") //nolint:errcheck
+	flag.Set("stderrthreshold", "INFO")                   //nolint:errcheck
 	initializeEnvironment()
 
 	imageUrls := images.LoadImageUrlsFromEnv()