diff --git a/e2e/nomostest/config_sync.go b/e2e/nomostest/config_sync.go
index 03104e1ab..8f9f0be0b 100644
--- a/e2e/nomostest/config_sync.go
+++ b/e2e/nomostest/config_sync.go
@@ -245,6 +245,21 @@ func InstallConfigSync(nt *NT) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// InstallConfigSyncFromManifest installs ConfigSync on the test cluster by directly
+// applying the manifest file using kubectl client-side apply
+func InstallConfigSyncFromManifest(nt *NT) error {
+	nt.T.Log("[SETUP] Installing Config Sync directly from manifest file")
+
+	nt.T.Logf("Applying Config Sync manifest directly from %s", configSyncManifest)
+
+	out, err := nt.Shell.Kubectl("apply", "-f", configSyncManifest)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to apply Config Sync manifest: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // uninstallConfigSync uninstalls ConfigSync on the test cluster
 func uninstallConfigSync(nt *NT) error {
 	nt.T.Log("[CLEANUP] Uninstalling Config Sync")
diff --git a/e2e/testcases/cli_test.go b/e2e/testcases/cli_test.go
index aebe72833..70aebe8cf 100644
--- a/e2e/testcases/cli_test.go
+++ b/e2e/testcases/cli_test.go
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import (
 	"kpt.dev/configsync/e2e/nomostest/ntopts"
 	"kpt.dev/configsync/e2e/nomostest/policy"
 	"kpt.dev/configsync/e2e/nomostest/syncsource"
+
 	"kpt.dev/configsync/e2e/nomostest/taskgroup"
 	nomostesting "kpt.dev/configsync/e2e/nomostest/testing"
 	"kpt.dev/configsync/e2e/nomostest/testpredicates"
@@ -1301,7 +1302,7 @@ func TestNomosMigrate(t *testing.T) {
 
 	nt.T.Cleanup(func() {
 		// Restore state of Config Sync installation after test
-		if err := nomostest.InstallConfigSync(nt); err != nil {
+		if err := nomostest.InstallConfigSyncFromManifest(nt); err != nil {
 			nt.T.Fatal(err)
 		}
 	})
@@ -1468,8 +1469,7 @@ func TestNomosMigrateMonoRepo(t *testing.T) {
 
 	nt.T.Cleanup(func() {
 		// Restore state of Config Sync installation after test.
-		// This also emulates upgrading to the current version after migrating
-		if err := nomostest.InstallConfigSync(nt); err != nil {
+		if err := nomostest.InstallConfigSyncFromManifest(nt); err != nil {
 			nt.T.Fatal(err)
 		}
 	})
@@ -1711,7 +1711,7 @@ func TestACMUninstallScript(t *testing.T) {
 
 	nt.T.Cleanup(func() {
 		// Restore state of Config Sync installation after test
-		if err := nomostest.InstallConfigSync(nt); err != nil {
+		if err := nomostest.InstallConfigSyncFromManifest(nt); err != nil {
 			nt.T.Fatal(err)
 		}
 	})