diff --git a/cmd/flux/install_test.go b/cmd/flux/install_test.go
index 2406fc6dbe..8055dc8b78 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/install_test.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/install_test.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package main
 
 import (
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -85,6 +86,8 @@ func TestInstall_ComponentsExtra(t *testing.T) {
 	foundImageReflector := false
 	foundSourceWatcher := false
 	foundExternalArtifact := false
+	foundImpersonationRole := false
+	foundImpersonationBinding := false
 	for _, obj := range manifests {
 		if obj.GetKind() == "Deployment" && obj.GetName() == "image-automation-controller" {
 			foundImageAutomation = true
@@ -103,9 +106,32 @@ func TestInstall_ComponentsExtra(t *testing.T) {
 			g.Expect(args).To(ContainElement("--feature-gates=ExternalArtifact=true"))
 			foundExternalArtifact = true
 		}
+		if obj.GetKind() == "ClusterRole" &&
+			strings.HasPrefix(obj.GetName(), "crd-controller-impersonator") {
+			rules, _, _ := unstructured.NestedSlice(obj.Object, "rules")
+			for _, r := range rules {
+				resources, _, _ := unstructured.NestedStringSlice(r.(map[string]any), "resources")
+				verbs, _, _ := unstructured.NestedStringSlice(r.(map[string]any), "verbs")
+				if slices.Contains(resources, "serviceaccounts") && slices.Contains(verbs, "impersonate") {
+					foundImpersonationRole = true
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		if obj.GetKind() == "ClusterRoleBinding" &&
+			strings.HasPrefix(obj.GetName(), "crd-controller-impersonator") {
+			subjects, _, _ := unstructured.NestedSlice(obj.Object, "subjects")
+			for _, s := range subjects {
+				name, _, _ := unstructured.NestedString(s.(map[string]any), "name")
+				if name == "source-watcher" || name == "kustomize-controller" || name == "helm-controller" {
+					foundImpersonationBinding = true
+				}
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	g.Expect(foundImageAutomation).To(BeTrue(), "image-automation-controller deployment not found")
 	g.Expect(foundImageReflector).To(BeTrue(), "image-reflector-controller deployment not found")
 	g.Expect(foundSourceWatcher).To(BeTrue(), "source-watcher deployment not found")
 	g.Expect(foundExternalArtifact).To(BeTrue(), "ExternalArtifact feature gate not found")
+	g.Expect(foundImpersonationRole).To(BeTrue(), "ServiceAccount impersonation ClusterRole not found")
+	g.Expect(foundImpersonationBinding).To(BeTrue(), "ServiceAccount impersonation ClusterRoleBinding not found")
 }
diff --git a/manifests/rbac/impersonator.yaml b/manifests/rbac/impersonator.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c926226fe3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/manifests/rbac/impersonator.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
+kind: ClusterRole
+metadata:
+  name: crd-controller-impersonator
+rules:
+# required for ServiceAccount impersonation
+- apiGroups:
+  - ""
+  resources:
+  - serviceaccounts
+  verbs:
+  - impersonate
+---
+apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
+kind: ClusterRoleBinding
+metadata:
+  name: crd-controller-impersonator
+roleRef:
+  apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
+  kind: ClusterRole
+  name: crd-controller-impersonator
+subjects:
+  - kind: ServiceAccount
+    name: kustomize-controller
+    namespace: flux-system
+  - kind: ServiceAccount
+    name: helm-controller
+    namespace: flux-system
+  - kind: ServiceAccount
+    name: source-watcher
+    namespace: flux-system
diff --git a/manifests/rbac/kustomization.yaml b/manifests/rbac/kustomization.yaml
index 4e708ef2f4..8866185817 100644
--- a/manifests/rbac/kustomization.yaml
+++ b/manifests/rbac/kustomization.yaml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
 kind: Kustomization
 resources:
   - controller.yaml
+  - impersonator.yaml
   - reconciler.yaml
   - edit.yaml
   - view.yaml