diff --git a/rust/operator-binary/src/crd/mod.rs b/rust/operator-binary/src/crd/mod.rs
index cd6a1046..c8accdce 100644
--- a/rust/operator-binary/src/crd/mod.rs
+++ b/rust/operator-binary/src/crd/mod.rs
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ impl v1alpha1::KafkaCluster {
         Ok(pod_descriptors)
     }
 
-    fn extract_rolegroup_replicas(
+    pub fn extract_rolegroup_replicas(
         &self,
         kafka_role: &KafkaRole,
     ) -> Result<BTreeMap<String, u16>, Error> {
diff --git a/rust/operator-binary/src/kafka_controller.rs b/rust/operator-binary/src/kafka_controller.rs
index c62cf520..cdb81ac3 100644
--- a/rust/operator-binary/src/kafka_controller.rs
+++ b/rust/operator-binary/src/kafka_controller.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::{collections::HashMap, str::FromStr, sync::Arc};
 
 use const_format::concatcp;
 use product_config::{ProductConfigManager, types::PropertyNameKind};
-use snafu::{ResultExt, Snafu};
+use snafu::{OptionExt as _, ResultExt as _, Snafu};
 use stackable_operator::{
     cli::OperatorEnvironmentOptions,
     cluster_resources::{ClusterResourceApplyStrategy, ClusterResources},
@@ -13,12 +13,14 @@ use stackable_operator::{
         rbac::build_rbac_resources,
     },
     crd::listener,
+    k8s_openapi::api::apps::v1::StatefulSet,
     kube::{
-        Resource,
+        Resource, ResourceExt as _,
         api::DynamicObject,
         core::{DeserializeGuard, error_boundary},
         runtime::{controller::Action, reflector::ObjectRef},
     },
+    kvp::consts::{K8S_APP_COMPONENT_KEY, K8S_APP_INSTANCE_KEY, K8S_APP_NAME_KEY},
     logging::controller::ReconcilerError,
     product_config_utils::{
         ValidatedRoleConfigByPropertyKind, transform_all_roles_to_config,
@@ -58,6 +60,10 @@ use crate::{
 pub const KAFKA_CONTROLLER_NAME: &str = "kafkacluster";
 pub const KAFKA_FULL_CONTROLLER_NAME: &str = concatcp!(KAFKA_CONTROLLER_NAME, '.', OPERATOR_NAME);
 
+/// How long to wait between reconciliation attempts while waiting for broker pods
+/// to terminate during a sequenced shutdown (brokers before controllers).
+const SEQUENCED_SHUTDOWN_REQUEUE: Duration = Duration::from_secs(10);
+
 pub struct Ctx {
     pub client: stackable_operator::client::Client,
     pub product_config: ProductConfigManager,
@@ -211,6 +217,14 @@ pub enum Error {
 
     #[snafu(display("object defines no namespace"))]
     GetOpaConfig { source: authorization::Error },
+
+    #[snafu(display("object has no namespace"))]
+    ObjectHasNoNamespace,
+
+    #[snafu(display("failed to check broker shutdown status"))]
+    CheckBrokerShutdownStatus {
+        source: stackable_operator::client::Error,
+    },
 }
 type Result<T, E = Error> = std::result::Result<T, E>;
 
@@ -252,10 +266,37 @@ impl ReconcilerError for Error {
             Error::InvalidKafkaListeners { .. } => None,
             Error::BuildPodDescriptors { .. } => None,
             Error::GetOpaConfig { .. } => None,
+            Error::ObjectHasNoNamespace => None,
+            Error::CheckBrokerShutdownStatus { .. } => None,
         }
     }
 }
 
+/// Returns `true` if all broker StatefulSets have been fully scaled down (0 running replicas).
+async fn broker_pods_stopped(
+    client: &stackable_operator::client::Client,
+    kafka: &v1alpha1::KafkaCluster,
+) -> Result<bool> {
+    let namespace = kafka.namespace().context(ObjectHasNoNamespaceSnafu)?;
+    let label_selector = format!(
+        "{K8S_APP_NAME_KEY}={APP_NAME},{K8S_APP_INSTANCE_KEY}={},{K8S_APP_COMPONENT_KEY}={}",
+        kafka.name_any(),
+        KafkaRole::Broker,
+    );
+    let list_params = stackable_operator::kube::api::ListParams {
+        label_selector: Some(label_selector),
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let broker_statefulsets: Vec<StatefulSet> = client
+        .list(namespace.as_str(), &list_params)
+        .await
+        .context(CheckBrokerShutdownStatusSnafu)?;
+
+    Ok(broker_statefulsets
+        .iter()
+        .all(|sts| sts.status.as_ref().is_none_or(|s| s.replicas == 0)))
+}
+
 pub async fn reconcile_kafka(
     kafka: Arc<DeserializeGuard<v1alpha1::KafkaCluster>>,
     ctx: Arc<Ctx>,
@@ -280,12 +321,68 @@ pub async fn reconcile_kafka(
         )
         .context(ResolveProductImageSnafu)?;
 
+    // When KRaft controllers are being scaled to 0, we must ensure brokers stop first,
+    // because brokers depend on controllers for the controlled shutdown protocol.
+    // Without this, brokers hang waiting for controller responses until
+    // terminationGracePeriodSeconds expires.
+    //
+    // This applies both when using clusterOperation.stopped and when manually setting
+    // controller replicas to 0. In either case, we prevent controllers from scaling
+    // down until all broker pods are gone.
+    //
+    // TODO: A validating webhook would provide better UX by rejecting invalid
+    // configurations (e.g. controllers=0 while brokers>0) at admission time
+    // rather than silently keeping controllers running.
+    let has_controllers = kafka.spec.controllers.is_some();
+    let stopped = kafka.spec.cluster_operation.stopped;
+
+    let all_controllers_zero = has_controllers
+        && kafka
+            .extract_rolegroup_replicas(&KafkaRole::Controller)
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+            .values()
+            .all(|r| *r == 0);
+    let all_brokers_zero = kafka
+        .extract_rolegroup_replicas(&KafkaRole::Broker)
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+        .values()
+        .all(|r| *r == 0);
+
+    // Sequenced shutdown is needed when controllers are going to 0, either via
+    // clusterOperation.stopped or by manually setting all controller replicas to 0.
+    let sequenced_shutdown = has_controllers && (stopped || all_controllers_zero);
+
+    // If controllers are set to 0 but brokers aren't, warn and keep controllers
+    // running to avoid breaking the cluster.
+    if all_controllers_zero && !all_brokers_zero && !stopped {
+        tracing::warn!(
+            "Controller replicas are set to 0 but broker replicas are non-zero. \
+             Controllers will not be scaled down until all brokers are stopped."
+        );
+    }
+
+    // Use Default instead of ClusterStopped because ClusterStopped zeroes all
+    // StatefulSet replicas unconditionally via maybe_mutate(). We need to control
+    // replica counts per role to sequence the shutdown (brokers before controllers),
+    // so we set replicas to 0 ourselves on each StatefulSet as needed.
+    let apply_strategy = if sequenced_shutdown {
+        ClusterResourceApplyStrategy::Default
+    } else {
+        ClusterResourceApplyStrategy::from(&kafka.spec.cluster_operation)
+    };
+
+    let brokers_stopped = if sequenced_shutdown {
+        broker_pods_stopped(client, kafka).await?
+    } else {
+        false
+    };
+
     let mut cluster_resources = ClusterResources::new(
         APP_NAME,
         OPERATOR_NAME,
         KAFKA_CONTROLLER_NAME,
         &kafka.object_ref(&()),
-        ClusterResourceApplyStrategy::from(&kafka.spec.cluster_operation),
+        apply_strategy,
         &kafka.spec.object_overrides,
     )
     .context(CreateClusterResourcesSnafu)?;
@@ -361,6 +458,27 @@ pub async fn reconcile_kafka(
         for (rolegroup_name, rolegroup_config) in role_config.iter() {
             let rolegroup_ref = kafka.rolegroup_ref(&kafka_role, rolegroup_name);
 
+            // Skip rolegroups with 0 replicas. There are no pods to configure, and
+            // building configmaps would fail when all controller replicas are 0
+            // (no quorum voters to reference).
+            // NOTE: This also means the rolegroup's resources (services, configmaps,
+            // statefulsets) won't be added to cluster_resources, so they will be
+            // deleted as orphans by delete_orphaned_resources(). They get recreated
+            // when replicas go back above 0.
+            //
+            // Exception: during sequenced shutdown, controller rolegroups must keep
+            // running until all brokers are gone, even if their spec says 0 replicas.
+            let replicas = kafka_role
+                .replicas(kafka, &rolegroup_ref.role_group)
+                .context(FailedToResolveConfigSnafu)?
+                .unwrap_or(0);
+            let keep_controllers_running = sequenced_shutdown
+                && kafka_role == KafkaRole::Controller
+                && !brokers_stopped;
+            if replicas == 0 && !keep_controllers_running {
+                continue;
+            }
+
             let merged_config = kafka_role
                 .merged_config(kafka, &rolegroup_ref.role_group)
                 .context(FailedToResolveConfigSnafu)?;
@@ -393,6 +511,15 @@ pub async fn reconcile_kafka(
                 )
                 .context(BuildPodDescriptorsSnafu)?;
 
+            tracing::warn!(
+                rolegroup = %rolegroup_ref,
+                role = %kafka_role,
+                total_pod_descriptors = pod_descriptors.len(),
+                controller_descriptors = pod_descriptors.iter().filter(|pd| pd.role == KafkaRole::Controller.to_string()).count(),
+                broker_descriptors = pod_descriptors.iter().filter(|pd| pd.role == KafkaRole::Broker.to_string()).count(),
+                "Building configmap for rolegroup",
+            );
+
             let rg_configmap = build_rolegroup_config_map(
                 kafka,
                 &resolved_product_image,
@@ -406,7 +533,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile_kafka(
             )
             .context(BuildConfigMapSnafu)?;
 
-            let rg_statefulset = match kafka_role {
+            let mut rg_statefulset = match kafka_role {
                 KafkaRole::Broker => build_broker_rolegroup_statefulset(
                     kafka,
                     &kafka_role,
@@ -433,6 +560,44 @@ pub async fn reconcile_kafka(
                 .context(BuildStatefulsetSnafu)?,
             };
 
+            if sequenced_shutdown {
+                match kafka_role {
+                    KafkaRole::Broker => {
+                        // Always stop brokers first.
+                        if let Some(spec) = rg_statefulset.spec.as_mut() {
+                            spec.replicas = Some(0);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    KafkaRole::Controller => {
+                        if brokers_stopped {
+                            // All brokers are gone, safe to stop controllers now.
+                            if let Some(spec) = rg_statefulset.spec.as_mut() {
+                                spec.replicas = Some(0);
+                            }
+                        } else if replicas == 0 {
+                            // Controller replicas are set to 0 in the spec, but
+                            // brokers are still running. Preserve the current
+                            // running replica count so controllers stay up.
+                            let current = client
+                                .get::<StatefulSet>(
+                                    &rg_statefulset.name_any(),
+                                    rg_statefulset
+                                        .namespace()
+                                        .as_deref()
+                                        .unwrap_or_default(),
+                                )
+                                .await
+                                .ok()
+                                .and_then(|sts| sts.spec)
+                                .and_then(|spec| spec.replicas);
+                            if let Some(spec) = rg_statefulset.spec.as_mut() {
+                                spec.replicas = current;
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             if let AnyConfig::Broker(broker_config) = merged_config {
                 let rg_bootstrap_listener = build_broker_rolegroup_bootstrap_listener(
                     kafka,
@@ -524,7 +689,13 @@ pub async fn reconcile_kafka(
         .await
         .context(ApplyStatusSnafu)?;
 
-    Ok(Action::await_change())
+    // During sequenced shutdown, requeue until brokers are fully stopped so we can
+    // proceed to stop controllers on the next reconciliation.
+    if sequenced_shutdown && !brokers_stopped {
+        Ok(Action::requeue(*SEQUENCED_SHUTDOWN_REQUEUE))
+    } else {
+        Ok(Action::await_change())
+    }
 }
 
 pub fn error_policy(
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
index acce2cee..11ddd3d7 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/cluster-operation/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 ---
-# Scale Kafka down before kuttl deletes the namespace.
-# Without this, ZooKeeper and Kafka are terminated simultaneously,
-# and Kafka hangs on controlled-shutdown ZooKeeper timeouts.
+# Stop the KafkaCluster before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, ZooKeeper/controllers and brokers are terminated simultaneously,
+# and brokers hang on controlled-shutdown timeouts.
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep
 commands:
   - script: |
-      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"brokers":{"roleGroups":{"default":{"replicas":0}}}}}'
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"clusterOperation":{"stopped":true}}}'
   - script: |
       kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/configuration/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/configuration/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..11ddd3d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/configuration/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+# Stop the KafkaCluster before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, ZooKeeper/controllers and brokers are terminated simultaneously,
+# and brokers hang on controlled-shutdown timeouts.
+apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
+kind: TestStep
+commands:
+  - script: |
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"clusterOperation":{"stopped":true}}}'
+  - script: |
+      kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/delete-rolegroup/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/delete-rolegroup/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
index 3339f085..11ddd3d7 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/delete-rolegroup/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/delete-rolegroup/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 ---
-# Scale Kafka down before kuttl deletes the namespace.
-# Without this, ZooKeeper and Kafka are terminated simultaneously,
-# and Kafka hangs on controlled-shutdown ZooKeeper timeouts.
+# Stop the KafkaCluster before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, ZooKeeper/controllers and brokers are terminated simultaneously,
+# and brokers hang on controlled-shutdown timeouts.
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep
 commands:
-  # Note: By the time this script runs, the secondary RoleGroup has already been deleted, therefore we don't scale it down.
   - script: |
-      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"brokers":{"roleGroups":{"default":{"replicas":0}}}}}'
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"clusterOperation":{"stopped":true}}}'
   - script: |
       kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/kerberos/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/kerberos/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
index acce2cee..11ddd3d7 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/kerberos/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/kerberos/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 ---
-# Scale Kafka down before kuttl deletes the namespace.
-# Without this, ZooKeeper and Kafka are terminated simultaneously,
-# and Kafka hangs on controlled-shutdown ZooKeeper timeouts.
+# Stop the KafkaCluster before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, ZooKeeper/controllers and brokers are terminated simultaneously,
+# and brokers hang on controlled-shutdown timeouts.
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep
 commands:
   - script: |
-      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"brokers":{"roleGroups":{"default":{"replicas":0}}}}}'
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"clusterOperation":{"stopped":true}}}'
   - script: |
       kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/logging/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/logging/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
index c072e08c..11ddd3d7 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/logging/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/logging/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 ---
-# Scale Kafka down before kuttl deletes the namespace.
-# Without this, ZooKeeper and Kafka are terminated simultaneously,
-# and Kafka hangs on controlled-shutdown ZooKeeper timeouts.
+# Stop the KafkaCluster before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, ZooKeeper/controllers and brokers are terminated simultaneously,
+# and brokers hang on controlled-shutdown timeouts.
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep
 commands:
   - script: |
-      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"brokers":{"roleGroups":{"automatic-log-config":{"replicas":0}, "custom-log-config":{"replicas":0}}}}}'
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"clusterOperation":{"stopped":true}}}'
   - script: |
       kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/opa/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/opa/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
index acce2cee..11ddd3d7 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/opa/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/opa/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 ---
-# Scale Kafka down before kuttl deletes the namespace.
-# Without this, ZooKeeper and Kafka are terminated simultaneously,
-# and Kafka hangs on controlled-shutdown ZooKeeper timeouts.
+# Stop the KafkaCluster before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, ZooKeeper/controllers and brokers are terminated simultaneously,
+# and brokers hang on controlled-shutdown timeouts.
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep
 commands:
   - script: |
-      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"brokers":{"roleGroups":{"default":{"replicas":0}}}}}'
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"clusterOperation":{"stopped":true}}}'
   - script: |
       kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/operations-kraft/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/operations-kraft/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..11ddd3d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/operations-kraft/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+# Stop the KafkaCluster before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, ZooKeeper/controllers and brokers are terminated simultaneously,
+# and brokers hang on controlled-shutdown timeouts.
+apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
+kind: TestStep
+commands:
+  - script: |
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"clusterOperation":{"stopped":true}}}'
+  - script: |
+      kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/30-install-kafka.yaml.j2 b/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/30-install-kafka.yaml.j2
index 95d85da6..7bbd4b43 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/30-install-kafka.yaml.j2
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/30-install-kafka.yaml.j2
@@ -36,16 +36,16 @@ data:
 apiVersion: authentication.stackable.tech/v1alpha1
 kind: AuthenticationClass
 metadata:
-  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 spec:
   provider:
     tls:
-      clientCertSecretClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+      clientCertSecretClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 ---
 apiVersion: secrets.stackable.tech/v1alpha1
 kind: SecretClass
 metadata:
-  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 spec:
   backend:
     autoTls:
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ spec:
   clusterConfig:
     metadataManager: kraft
     authentication:
-      - authenticationClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+      - authenticationClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
     tls:
       serverSecretClass: tls
     vectorAggregatorConfigMapName: vector-aggregator-discovery
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/70_test-tls-job.yaml.j2 b/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/70_test-tls-job.yaml.j2
index f9da65e1..d48b8bf5 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/70_test-tls-job.yaml.j2
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/70_test-tls-job.yaml.j2
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ spec:
             volumeClaimTemplate:
               metadata:
                 annotations:
-                  secrets.stackable.tech/class: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+                  secrets.stackable.tech/class: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
                   secrets.stackable.tech/format: tls-pkcs12
                   secrets.stackable.tech/scope: pod,node
               spec:
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8d201b64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke-kraft/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+---
+# Scale Kafka down before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, Kafka pods may hang during shutdown.
+apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
+kind: TestStep
+commands:
+  # Scale down brokers first, since they depend on controllers.
+  - script: |
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"brokers":{"roleGroups":{"default":{"replicas":0},"automatic-log-config":{"replicas":0},"custom-log-config":{"replicas":0}}}}}'
+  - script: |
+      kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka,app.kubernetes.io/component=broker -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
+  # Then scale down controllers once all brokers are gone.
+  - script: |
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"controllers":{"roleGroups":{"automatic-log-config":{"replicas":0},"custom-log-config":{"replicas":0}}}}}'
+  - script: |
+      kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
index acce2cee..11ddd3d7 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/smoke/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 ---
-# Scale Kafka down before kuttl deletes the namespace.
-# Without this, ZooKeeper and Kafka are terminated simultaneously,
-# and Kafka hangs on controlled-shutdown ZooKeeper timeouts.
+# Stop the KafkaCluster before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, ZooKeeper/controllers and brokers are terminated simultaneously,
+# and brokers hang on controlled-shutdown timeouts.
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep
 commands:
   - script: |
-      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"brokers":{"roleGroups":{"default":{"replicas":0}}}}}'
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"clusterOperation":{"stopped":true}}}'
   - script: |
       kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/tls/40-install-kafka.yaml.j2 b/tests/templates/kuttl/tls/40-install-kafka.yaml.j2
index ba0278a4..a722d865 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/tls/40-install-kafka.yaml.j2
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/tls/40-install-kafka.yaml.j2
@@ -11,16 +11,16 @@ spec:
 apiVersion: authentication.stackable.tech/v1alpha1
 kind: AuthenticationClass
 metadata:
-  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 spec:
   provider:
     tls:
-      clientCertSecretClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+      clientCertSecretClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 ---
 apiVersion: secrets.stackable.tech/v1alpha1
 kind: SecretClass
 metadata:
-  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 spec:
   backend:
     autoTls:
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ spec:
   clusterConfig:
 {% if test_scenario['values']['use-client-auth-tls'] == 'true' %}
     authentication:
-      - authenticationClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+      - authenticationClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 {% endif %}
     tls:
 {% if test_scenario['values']['use-client-tls'] == 'true' %}
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/tls/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/tls/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
index acce2cee..11ddd3d7 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/tls/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/tls/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 ---
-# Scale Kafka down before kuttl deletes the namespace.
-# Without this, ZooKeeper and Kafka are terminated simultaneously,
-# and Kafka hangs on controlled-shutdown ZooKeeper timeouts.
+# Stop the KafkaCluster before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, ZooKeeper/controllers and brokers are terminated simultaneously,
+# and brokers hang on controlled-shutdown timeouts.
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep
 commands:
   - script: |
-      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"brokers":{"roleGroups":{"default":{"replicas":0}}}}}'
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"clusterOperation":{"stopped":true}}}'
   - script: |
       kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/upgrade/02-install-kafka.yaml.j2 b/tests/templates/kuttl/upgrade/02-install-kafka.yaml.j2
index 93e1d415..40dbfcdd 100644
--- a/tests/templates/kuttl/upgrade/02-install-kafka.yaml.j2
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/upgrade/02-install-kafka.yaml.j2
@@ -3,16 +3,16 @@
 apiVersion: authentication.stackable.tech/v1alpha1
 kind: AuthenticationClass
 metadata:
-  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 spec:
   provider:
     tls:
-      clientCertSecretClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+      clientCertSecretClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 ---
 apiVersion: secrets.stackable.tech/v1alpha1
 kind: SecretClass
 metadata:
-  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+  name: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 spec:
   backend:
     autoTls:
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ spec:
     metadataManager: kraft
 {% if test_scenario['values']['use-client-auth-tls'] == 'true' %}
     authentication:
-      - authenticationClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls
+      - authenticationClass: test-kafka-client-auth-tls-{{ NAMESPACE }}
 {% endif %}
     tls:
 {% if test_scenario['values']['use-client-tls'] == 'true' %}
diff --git a/tests/templates/kuttl/upgrade/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml b/tests/templates/kuttl/upgrade/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..11ddd3d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/templates/kuttl/upgrade/90-shutdown-kafka.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+# Stop the KafkaCluster before kuttl deletes the namespace.
+# Without this, ZooKeeper/controllers and brokers are terminated simultaneously,
+# and brokers hang on controlled-shutdown timeouts.
+apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
+kind: TestStep
+commands:
+  - script: |
+      kubectl patch kafkacluster test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --type merge -p '{"spec":{"clusterOperation":{"stopped":true}}}'
+  - script: |
+      kubectl wait --for=delete pod -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=test-kafka -n $NAMESPACE --timeout=300s