diff --git a/api/v1beta1/spec.go b/api/v1beta1/spec.go
index fd319c88..bdb7406c 100644
--- a/api/v1beta1/spec.go
+++ b/api/v1beta1/spec.go
@@ -298,6 +298,19 @@ type HelmInstallOptions struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:default:=false
 	// +optional
 	TakeOwnership bool `json:"takeOwnership,omitempty"`
+
+	// RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+	// chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+	// retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+	// blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+	// currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+	// failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+	// through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+	// was already cleanly uninstalled.
+	// Default to 5
+	// +kubebuilder:default:=5
+	// +optional
+	RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures int `json:"recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type HelmUpgradeOptions struct {
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clusterprofiles.yaml b/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clusterprofiles.yaml
index ee597a98..10e4e827 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clusterprofiles.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clusterprofiles.yaml
@@ -318,6 +318,19 @@ spec:
                                 disable hooks on install
                                 Default to false
                               type: boolean
+                            recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                              default: 5
+                              description: |-
+                                RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                Default to 5
+                              type: integer
                             replace:
                               default: true
                               description: Replaces if set indicates to replace an
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clusterpromotions.yaml b/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clusterpromotions.yaml
index 7a8836c7..ab3d6eb0 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clusterpromotions.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clusterpromotions.yaml
@@ -218,6 +218,19 @@ spec:
                                     disable hooks on install
                                     Default to false
                                   type: boolean
+                                recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                                  default: 5
+                                  description: |-
+                                    RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                    chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                    retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                    blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                    currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                    failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                    through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                    was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                    Default to 5
+                                  type: integer
                                 replace:
                                   default: true
                                   description: Replaces if set indicates to replace
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clustersummaries.yaml b/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clustersummaries.yaml
index 175e9265..9a3de849 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clustersummaries.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_clustersummaries.yaml
@@ -355,6 +355,19 @@ spec:
                                     disable hooks on install
                                     Default to false
                                   type: boolean
+                                recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                                  default: 5
+                                  description: |-
+                                    RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                    chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                    retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                    blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                    currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                    failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                    through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                    was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                    Default to 5
+                                  type: integer
                                 replace:
                                   default: true
                                   description: Replaces if set indicates to replace
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_profiles.yaml b/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_profiles.yaml
index 34f26eb4..c4d7a97c 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_profiles.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/config.projectsveltos.io_profiles.yaml
@@ -318,6 +318,19 @@ spec:
                                 disable hooks on install
                                 Default to false
                               type: boolean
+                            recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                              default: 5
+                              description: |-
+                                RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                Default to 5
+                              type: integer
                             replace:
                               default: true
                               description: Replaces if set indicates to replace an
diff --git a/controllers/handlers_helm.go b/controllers/handlers_helm.go
index 77de9f87..4384ae29 100644
--- a/controllers/handlers_helm.go
+++ b/controllers/handlers_helm.go
@@ -100,11 +100,12 @@ var (
 )
 
 const (
-	notInstalledMessage        = "Not installed yet and action is uninstall"
-	defaultMaxHistory          = 2
-	defaultDeletionPropagation = "background"
-	defaultChartVersion        = "0.1.0"
-	conditionStatusTrue        = "True"
+	notInstalledMessage                    = "Not installed yet and action is uninstall"
+	defaultMaxHistory                      = 2
+	defaultRecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures = 5
+	defaultDeletionPropagation             = "background"
+	defaultChartVersion                    = "0.1.0"
+	conditionStatusTrue                    = "True"
 )
 
 type registryClientOptions struct {
@@ -1590,11 +1591,11 @@ func handleInstall(ctx context.Context, dCtx *deploymentContext,
 
 	logger.V(logs.LogDebug).Info("install helm release")
 
-	maxHistory := uint(getMaxHistoryValue(currentChart.Options))
+	recoverAfter := getRecoverAfterConsecutiveFailuresValue(currentChart.Options)
 
 	if !isPullMode {
 		if fs := getFeatureSummaryForFeatureID(dCtx.clusterSummary, libsveltosv1beta1.FeatureHelm); fs != nil {
-			if fs.ConsecutiveFailures%maxHistory == 0 && fs.FailureMessage != nil {
+			if fs.ConsecutiveFailures%recoverAfter == 0 && fs.FailureMessage != nil {
 				err := doUninstallRelease(ctx, dCtx.clusterSummary, currentChart, kubeconfig, registryOptions, logger)
 				if err != nil {
 					// Ignore release not found error
@@ -2801,33 +2802,25 @@ func recoverRelease(ctx context.Context, clusterSummary *configv1beta1.ClusterSu
 		requestedChart.ReleaseNamespace, kubeconfig, registryOptions, requestedChart, logger)
 }
 
-// shouldInstall returns true if action is not uninstall and either there
-// is no installed or version, or version is same requested by customer but status is
-// not yet deployed
+// shouldInstall returns true if action is not uninstall and there is no release to manage
+// the lifecycle of: either none was ever created, or the last one was cleanly uninstalled.
+// Any other state (deployed at a different version, failed, pending-*, superseded, ...) is
+// an existing release that shouldUpgrade must handle instead. In particular, a release whose
+// last upgrade/install attempt failed still has a release record (Helm keeps history for
+// failed attempts too, stamped with the version that attempt tried to reach) — that must not
+// be mistaken for "nothing to do here but install", since it goes through handleInstall's
+// own uninstall-on-repeated-failure recovery, which is destructive and must stay reserved for
+// the case where there is genuinely nothing deployed to lose.
 func shouldInstall(currentRelease *releaseInfo, requestedChart *configv1beta1.HelmChart) bool {
 	if requestedChart.HelmChartAction == configv1beta1.HelmChartActionUninstall {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	if currentRelease != nil &&
-		currentRelease.Status == releasecommon.StatusUninstalled.String() {
-
+	if currentRelease == nil {
 		return true
 	}
 
-	if currentRelease != nil &&
-		currentRelease.ChartVersion != requestedChart.ChartVersion {
-
-		return false
-	}
-
-	if currentRelease != nil &&
-		currentRelease.Status == releasecommon.StatusDeployed.String() {
-
-		return false
-	}
-
-	return true
+	return currentRelease.Status == releasecommon.StatusUninstalled.String()
 }
 
 // shouldUpgrade returns true if action is not uninstall and current installed chart is different
@@ -4291,6 +4284,17 @@ func getMaxHistoryValue(options *configv1beta1.HelmOptions) int {
 	return defaultMaxHistory
 }
 
+// getRecoverAfterConsecutiveFailuresValue returns the number of consecutive install failures
+// handleInstall tolerates, for a release it is not currently protecting (see shouldInstall),
+// before uninstalling any stale release record under that name and retrying.
+func getRecoverAfterConsecutiveFailuresValue(options *configv1beta1.HelmOptions) uint {
+	if options != nil && options.InstallOptions.RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures > 0 {
+		return uint(options.InstallOptions.RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures)
+	}
+
+	return defaultRecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures
+}
+
 func getCleanupOnFailValue(options *configv1beta1.HelmOptions) bool {
 	if options != nil {
 		return options.UpgradeOptions.CleanupOnFail
diff --git a/controllers/handlers_helm_test.go b/controllers/handlers_helm_test.go
index f60f0810..8db5f942 100644
--- a/controllers/handlers_helm_test.go
+++ b/controllers/handlers_helm_test.go
@@ -135,6 +135,35 @@ var _ = Describe("HandlersHelm", func() {
 		Expect(controllers.ShouldInstall(nil, requestChart)).To(BeFalse())
 	})
 
+	It("shouldInstall returns false for a failed release even when its recorded version matches the request", func() {
+		// A failed upgrade/install attempt still leaves a release record behind, stamped
+		// with the version that attempt tried (and failed) to reach. That must not be
+		// mistaken for "nothing to do here but install" - it has to be retried as an
+		// upgrade instead, never routed through handleInstall's uninstall-on-repeated-
+		// failure recovery.
+		currentRelease := &controllers.ReleaseInfo{
+			Status:       releasecommon.StatusFailed.String(),
+			ChartVersion: testChartVersion253,
+		}
+		requestChart := &configv1beta1.HelmChart{
+			ChartVersion:    testChartVersion253,
+			HelmChartAction: configv1beta1.HelmChartActionInstall,
+		}
+		Expect(controllers.ShouldInstall(currentRelease, requestChart)).To(BeFalse())
+	})
+
+	It("shouldInstall returns true when the current release was cleanly uninstalled", func() {
+		currentRelease := &controllers.ReleaseInfo{
+			Status:       releasecommon.StatusUninstalled.String(),
+			ChartVersion: testChartVersion253,
+		}
+		requestChart := &configv1beta1.HelmChart{
+			ChartVersion:    testChartVersion253,
+			HelmChartAction: configv1beta1.HelmChartActionInstall,
+		}
+		Expect(controllers.ShouldInstall(currentRelease, requestChart)).To(BeTrue())
+	})
+
 	It("shouldUninstall returns false when there is no current release installed", func() {
 		requestChart := &configv1beta1.HelmChart{
 			ChartVersion:    testChartVersion253,
diff --git a/lib/crd/clusterprofiles.go b/lib/crd/clusterprofiles.go
index 9e585baa..9ae48d9e 100644
--- a/lib/crd/clusterprofiles.go
+++ b/lib/crd/clusterprofiles.go
@@ -337,6 +337,19 @@ spec:
                                 disable hooks on install
                                 Default to false
                               type: boolean
+                            recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                              default: 5
+                              description: |-
+                                RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                Default to 5
+                              type: integer
                             replace:
                               default: true
                               description: Replaces if set indicates to replace an
diff --git a/lib/crd/clusterpromotions.go b/lib/crd/clusterpromotions.go
index dff1a41a..d05226c7 100644
--- a/lib/crd/clusterpromotions.go
+++ b/lib/crd/clusterpromotions.go
@@ -237,6 +237,19 @@ spec:
                                     disable hooks on install
                                     Default to false
                                   type: boolean
+                                recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                                  default: 5
+                                  description: |-
+                                    RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                    chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                    retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                    blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                    currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                    failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                    through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                    was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                    Default to 5
+                                  type: integer
                                 replace:
                                   default: true
                                   description: Replaces if set indicates to replace
diff --git a/lib/crd/clustersummaries.go b/lib/crd/clustersummaries.go
index e8ffb670..f72bf692 100644
--- a/lib/crd/clustersummaries.go
+++ b/lib/crd/clustersummaries.go
@@ -374,6 +374,19 @@ spec:
                                     disable hooks on install
                                     Default to false
                                   type: boolean
+                                recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                                  default: 5
+                                  description: |-
+                                    RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                    chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                    retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                    blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                    currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                    failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                    through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                    was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                    Default to 5
+                                  type: integer
                                 replace:
                                   default: true
                                   description: Replaces if set indicates to replace
diff --git a/lib/crd/profiles.go b/lib/crd/profiles.go
index e9226bfc..975ad111 100644
--- a/lib/crd/profiles.go
+++ b/lib/crd/profiles.go
@@ -337,6 +337,19 @@ spec:
                                 disable hooks on install
                                 Default to false
                               type: boolean
+                            recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                              default: 5
+                              description: |-
+                                RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                Default to 5
+                              type: integer
                             replace:
                               default: true
                               description: Replaces if set indicates to replace an
diff --git a/manifest/manifest.yaml b/manifest/manifest.yaml
index 55eaa04d..027fc315 100644
--- a/manifest/manifest.yaml
+++ b/manifest/manifest.yaml
@@ -627,6 +627,19 @@ spec:
                                 disable hooks on install
                                 Default to false
                               type: boolean
+                            recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                              default: 5
+                              description: |-
+                                RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                Default to 5
+                              type: integer
                             replace:
                               default: true
                               description: Replaces if set indicates to replace an
@@ -3068,6 +3081,19 @@ spec:
                                     disable hooks on install
                                     Default to false
                                   type: boolean
+                                recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                                  default: 5
+                                  description: |-
+                                    RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                    chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                    retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                    blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                    currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                    failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                    through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                    was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                    Default to 5
+                                  type: integer
                                 replace:
                                   default: true
                                   description: Replaces if set indicates to replace
@@ -6654,6 +6680,19 @@ spec:
                                     disable hooks on install
                                     Default to false
                                   type: boolean
+                                recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                                  default: 5
+                                  description: |-
+                                    RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                    chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                    retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                    blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                    currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                    failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                    through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                    was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                    Default to 5
+                                  type: integer
                                 replace:
                                   default: true
                                   description: Replaces if set indicates to replace
@@ -9175,6 +9214,19 @@ spec:
                                 disable hooks on install
                                 Default to false
                               type: boolean
+                            recoverAfterConsecutiveFailures:
+                              default: 5
+                              description: |-
+                                RecoverAfterConsecutiveFailures is the number of consecutive install failures for this
+                                chart after which Sveltos uninstalls any existing release under this name before
+                                retrying, to clear potentially stale Helm release history that would otherwise keep
+                                blocking every subsequent install attempt. This only ever runs when there is no
+                                currently deployed release to protect: a release that is deployed, or mid-upgrade, or
+                                failed while already existing, is always retried through helm upgrade instead, never
+                                through this. It only applies to a release that was never successfully installed, or
+                                was already cleanly uninstalled.
+                                Default to 5
+                              type: integer
                             replace:
                               default: true
                               description: Replaces if set indicates to replace an