diff --git a/config/crd/bases/ipam.cluster.x-k8s.io_ipaddressclaims.yaml b/config/crd/bases/ipam.cluster.x-k8s.io_ipaddressclaims.yaml
index 9746140c46c3..d03ebdb71844 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/ipam.cluster.x-k8s.io_ipaddressclaims.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/ipam.cluster.x-k8s.io_ipaddressclaims.yaml
@@ -127,8 +127,6 @@ spec:
                   - type
                   type: object
                 type: array
-            required:
-            - addressRef
             type: object
         type: object
     served: true
diff --git a/exp/ipam/api/v1alpha1/ipaddressclaim_types.go b/exp/ipam/api/v1alpha1/ipaddressclaim_types.go
index a8d211b82d1f..af259b415548 100644
--- a/exp/ipam/api/v1alpha1/ipaddressclaim_types.go
+++ b/exp/ipam/api/v1alpha1/ipaddressclaim_types.go
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ type IPAddressClaimSpec struct {
 // IPAddressClaimStatus is the observed status of a IPAddressClaim.
 type IPAddressClaimStatus struct {
 	// AddressRef is a reference to the address that was created for this claim.
-	AddressRef corev1.LocalObjectReference `json:"addressRef"`
+	// +optional
+	AddressRef corev1.LocalObjectReference `json:"addressRef,omitempty"`
 
 	// Conditions summarises the current state of the IPAddressClaim
 	// +optional