diff --git a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
index 6ed03834fd8..b4eb76f5fe4 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ test: manifests generate fmt vet setup-envtest ## Run tests.
 # - CERT_MANAGER_INSTALL_SKIP=true
 KIND_CLUSTER ?= project-test-e2e
 
+# Optional targets to run after setting up Kind cluster and before running e2e tests
+SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS ?=
+
 .PHONY: setup-test-e2e
 setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	@command -v $(KIND) >/dev/null 2>&1 || { \
@@ -80,7 +83,7 @@ setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	$(KIND) create cluster --name $(KIND_CLUSTER)
 
 .PHONY: test-e2e
-test-e2e: setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
+test-e2e: $(SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS) setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
 	KIND_CLUSTER=$(KIND_CLUSTER) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 	$(MAKE) cleanup-test-e2e
 
diff --git a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile
index e4853ada9a2..79ccba8361b 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ test: manifests generate fmt vet setup-envtest ## Run tests.
 # - CERT_MANAGER_INSTALL_SKIP=true
 KIND_CLUSTER ?= project-test-e2e
 
+# Optional targets to run after setting up Kind cluster and before running e2e tests
+SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS ?=
+
 .PHONY: setup-test-e2e
 setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	@command -v $(KIND) >/dev/null 2>&1 || { \
@@ -76,7 +79,7 @@ setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	$(KIND) create cluster --name $(KIND_CLUSTER)
 
 .PHONY: test-e2e
-test-e2e: setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
+test-e2e: $(SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS) setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
 	KIND_CLUSTER=$(KIND_CLUSTER) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 	$(MAKE) cleanup-test-e2e
 
diff --git a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
index 6ed03834fd8..b4eb76f5fe4 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ test: manifests generate fmt vet setup-envtest ## Run tests.
 # - CERT_MANAGER_INSTALL_SKIP=true
 KIND_CLUSTER ?= project-test-e2e
 
+# Optional targets to run after setting up Kind cluster and before running e2e tests
+SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS ?=
+
 .PHONY: setup-test-e2e
 setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	@command -v $(KIND) >/dev/null 2>&1 || { \
@@ -80,7 +83,7 @@ setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	$(KIND) create cluster --name $(KIND_CLUSTER)
 
 .PHONY: test-e2e
-test-e2e: setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
+test-e2e: $(SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS) setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
 	KIND_CLUSTER=$(KIND_CLUSTER) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 	$(MAKE) cleanup-test-e2e
 
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
index 6e403cbfeb6..21cd774a72b 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
@@ -146,6 +146,9 @@ test: manifests generate fmt vet setup-envtest ## Run tests.
 # - CERT_MANAGER_INSTALL_SKIP=true
 KIND_CLUSTER ?= {{ .ProjectName }}-test-e2e
 
+# Optional targets to run after setting up Kind cluster and before running e2e tests
+SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS ?=
+
 .PHONY: setup-test-e2e
 setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	@command -v $(KIND) >/dev/null 2>&1 || { \
@@ -155,7 +158,7 @@ setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	$(KIND) create cluster --name $(KIND_CLUSTER)
 
 .PHONY: test-e2e
-test-e2e: setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
+test-e2e: $(SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS) setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
 	KIND_CLUSTER=$(KIND_CLUSTER) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 	$(MAKE) cleanup-test-e2e
 
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
index d60b2d5d402..4598e18b15c 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ test: manifests generate fmt vet setup-envtest ## Run tests.
 # - CERT_MANAGER_INSTALL_SKIP=true
 KIND_CLUSTER ?= project-v4-multigroup-test-e2e
 
+# Optional targets to run after setting up Kind cluster and before running e2e tests
+SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS ?=
+
 .PHONY: setup-test-e2e
 setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	@command -v $(KIND) >/dev/null 2>&1 || { \
@@ -76,7 +79,7 @@ setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	$(KIND) create cluster --name $(KIND_CLUSTER)
 
 .PHONY: test-e2e
-test-e2e: setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
+test-e2e: $(SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS) setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
 	KIND_CLUSTER=$(KIND_CLUSTER) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 	$(MAKE) cleanup-test-e2e
 
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/go.mod b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/go.mod
index cd57ba08186..8ca19c87533 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/go.mod
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module sigs.k8s.io/kubebuilder/testdata/project-v4-multigroup
 go 1.24.0
 
 require (
-	github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager v1.18.0
+	github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager v1.18.1
 	github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2 v2.22.0
 	github.com/onsi/gomega v1.36.1
 	k8s.io/api v0.33.0
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/Makefile
index 8e316b8a4c4..cbf808fa36a 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/Makefile
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ test: manifests generate fmt vet setup-envtest ## Run tests.
 # - CERT_MANAGER_INSTALL_SKIP=true
 KIND_CLUSTER ?= project-v4-with-plugins-test-e2e
 
+# Optional targets to run after setting up Kind cluster and before running e2e tests
+SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS ?=
+
 .PHONY: setup-test-e2e
 setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	@command -v $(KIND) >/dev/null 2>&1 || { \
@@ -76,7 +79,7 @@ setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	$(KIND) create cluster --name $(KIND_CLUSTER)
 
 .PHONY: test-e2e
-test-e2e: setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
+test-e2e: $(SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS) setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
 	KIND_CLUSTER=$(KIND_CLUSTER) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 	$(MAKE) cleanup-test-e2e
 
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
index d8fd3d0f010..e7db02d0a17 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ test: manifests generate fmt vet setup-envtest ## Run tests.
 # - CERT_MANAGER_INSTALL_SKIP=true
 KIND_CLUSTER ?= project-v4-test-e2e
 
+# Optional targets to run after setting up Kind cluster and before running e2e tests
+SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS ?=
+
 .PHONY: setup-test-e2e
 setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	@command -v $(KIND) >/dev/null 2>&1 || { \
@@ -76,7 +79,7 @@ setup-test-e2e: ## Set up a Kind cluster for e2e tests if it does not exist
 	$(KIND) create cluster --name $(KIND_CLUSTER)
 
 .PHONY: test-e2e
-test-e2e: setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
+test-e2e: $(SETUP_TEST_E2E_TARGETS) setup-test-e2e manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated environment using Kind.
 	KIND_CLUSTER=$(KIND_CLUSTER) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 	$(MAKE) cleanup-test-e2e
 
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4/go.mod b/testdata/project-v4/go.mod
index ebfb0b1f412..faa842214b5 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4/go.mod
+++ b/testdata/project-v4/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module sigs.k8s.io/kubebuilder/testdata/project-v4
 go 1.24.0
 
 require (
-	github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager v1.18.0
+	github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager v1.18.1
 	github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2 v2.22.0
 	github.com/onsi/gomega v1.36.1
 	k8s.io/api v0.33.0