diff --git a/pkg/controller/installation/core_controller.go b/pkg/controller/installation/core_controller.go
index b2ab7664e1..d721b134ae 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/installation/core_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/installation/core_controller.go
@@ -1100,7 +1100,7 @@ func (r *ReconcileInstallation) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, request reconcile
 		return reconcile.Result{}, err
 	}
 
-	calicoVersion := r.ext.ProductVersion()
+	calicoVersion := r.ext.ProductVersion(&instance.Spec)
 
 	ci := controller.Inputs{
 		RenderInputs: render.Inputs{
diff --git a/pkg/enterprise/installation/core.go b/pkg/enterprise/installation/core.go
index fd6236b5d6..fd92aaa20a 100644
--- a/pkg/enterprise/installation/core.go
+++ b/pkg/enterprise/installation/core.go
@@ -93,9 +93,12 @@ func collectProcessPathEnabled(lc *operatorv1.LogCollector) bool {
 		*lc.Spec.CollectProcessPath == operatorv1.CollectProcessPathEnable
 }
 
-// Validate rejects installation config Calico Enterprise does not support.
-// ProductVersion is the Calico Enterprise release the operator reports in status.
-func (e *Extension) ProductVersion() string {
+// ProductVersion is the release the operator reports in status. The Enterprise
+// operator also manages Calico variant installs, during migration.
+func (e *Extension) ProductVersion(install *operatorv1.InstallationSpec) string {
+	if !install.Variant.IsEnterprise() {
+		return components.CalicoRelease
+	}
 	return components.EnterpriseRelease
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/extensions/extensions_test.go b/pkg/extensions/extensions_test.go
index 81b273d9b6..1ed6cecf56 100644
--- a/pkg/extensions/extensions_test.go
+++ b/pkg/extensions/extensions_test.go
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ var _ = Describe("the zero value Extensions", func() {
 	It("runs the base behavior for every controller", func() {
 		var e extensions.Extensions
 
-		Expect(e.Installation().ProductVersion()).NotTo(BeEmpty())
+		Expect(e.Installation().ProductVersion(&operatorv1.InstallationSpec{})).NotTo(BeEmpty())
 		Expect(e.Installation().KubeControllersImage()).To(BeNil())
 		Expect(e.Windows().Watches(nil)).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
 
diff --git a/pkg/extensions/installation.go b/pkg/extensions/installation.go
index d6c923fd62..1191f80268 100644
--- a/pkg/extensions/installation.go
+++ b/pkg/extensions/installation.go
@@ -41,8 +41,9 @@ type InstallationExtension interface {
 	// it changed fc. It runs before Felix defaulting persists.
 	DefaultFelixConfiguration(install *operatorv1.InstallationSpec, fc *v3.FelixConfiguration) (bool, error)
 
-	// ProductVersion is the version the operator writes to the Installation status.
-	ProductVersion() string
+	// ProductVersion is the version the operator writes to the Installation status
+	// for the variant the given spec installs.
+	ProductVersion(install *operatorv1.InstallationSpec) string
 
 	// KubeControllersImage overrides the image kube-controllers runs, or nil to run
 	// the variant's combined calico image. Calico Cloud is the only caller.
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ func (noopInstallation) DefaultFelixConfiguration(*operatorv1.InstallationSpec,
 	return false, nil
 }
 
-func (noopInstallation) ProductVersion() string {
+func (noopInstallation) ProductVersion(*operatorv1.InstallationSpec) string {
 	return components.CalicoRelease
 }