diff --git a/docs/book/src/component-config-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/component-config-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
index c38d0294813..36c5471b0b8 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/component-config-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/component-config-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ GOLANGCI_LINT = $(LOCALBIN)/golangci-lint-$(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)
 ## Tool Versions
 KUSTOMIZE_VERSION ?= v5.3.0
 CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.14.0
-ENVTEST_VERSION ?= latest
+ENVTEST_VERSION ?= release-0.14
 GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION ?= v1.54.2
 
 .PHONY: kustomize
diff --git a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
index c38d0294813..36c5471b0b8 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ GOLANGCI_LINT = $(LOCALBIN)/golangci-lint-$(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)
 ## Tool Versions
 KUSTOMIZE_VERSION ?= v5.3.0
 CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.14.0
-ENVTEST_VERSION ?= latest
+ENVTEST_VERSION ?= release-0.14
 GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION ?= v1.54.2
 
 .PHONY: kustomize
diff --git a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile
index c38d0294813..36c5471b0b8 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ GOLANGCI_LINT = $(LOCALBIN)/golangci-lint-$(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)
 ## Tool Versions
 KUSTOMIZE_VERSION ?= v5.3.0
 CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.14.0
-ENVTEST_VERSION ?= latest
+ENVTEST_VERSION ?= release-0.14
 GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION ?= v1.54.2
 
 .PHONY: kustomize
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/init.go b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/init.go
index a9f673be494..42d7c9f8371 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/init.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/init.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package scaffolds
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kubebuilder/v3/pkg/config"
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kubebuilder/v3/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/hack"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kubebuilder/v3/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/test/e2e"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kubebuilder/v3/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/test/utils"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -71,6 +73,20 @@ func (s *initScaffolder) InjectFS(fs machinery.Filesystem) {
 	s.fs = fs
 }
 
+// getControllerRuntimeReleaseBranch converts the ControllerRuntime semantic versioning string to a release branch string.
+// Example input: "v0.17.0" -> Output: "release-0.17"
+func getControllerRuntimeReleaseBranch() string {
+	v := strings.TrimPrefix(ControllerToolsVersion, "v")
+	tmp := strings.Split(v, ".")
+
+	if len(tmp) < 2 {
+		fmt.Println("Invalid version format. Expected at least major and minor version numbers.")
+		return ""
+	}
+	releaseBranch := fmt.Sprintf("release-%s.%s", tmp[0], tmp[1])
+	return releaseBranch
+}
+
 // Scaffold implements cmdutil.Scaffolder
 func (s *initScaffolder) Scaffold() error {
 	log.Println("Writing scaffold for you to edit...")
@@ -136,6 +152,7 @@ func (s *initScaffolder) Scaffold() error {
 			ControllerToolsVersion:   ControllerToolsVersion,
 			KustomizeVersion:         kustomizeVersion,
 			ControllerRuntimeVersion: ControllerRuntimeVersion,
+			EnvtestVersion:           getControllerRuntimeReleaseBranch(),
 		},
 		&templates.Dockerfile{},
 		&templates.DockerIgnore{},
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
index 870aae7f59a..af077909321 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
@@ -56,11 +56,15 @@ func (f *Makefile) SetTemplateDefaults() error {
 		f.Image = "controller:latest"
 	}
 
-	// TODO: Looking for ways to tag the controller-runtime
-	// release using tag versions. Note that we cannot
-	// relay upon the branch since we cannot ensure that
-	// it will be generated for all releases. We must be
-	// able to use the tag.
+	// TODO: Current workaround for setup-envtest compatibility
+	// Due to past instances where controller-runtime maintainers released
+	// versions without corresponding branches, directly relying on branches
+	// poses a risk of breaking the Kubebuilder chain. Such practices may
+	// change over time, potentially leading to compatibility issues. This
+	// approach, although not ideal, remains the best solution for ensuring
+	// compatibility with controller-runtime releases as of now. For more
+	// details on the quest for a more robust solution, refer to the issue
+	// raised in the controller-runtime repository: https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/controller-runtime/issues/2744
 	if f.EnvtestVersion == "" {
 		f.EnvtestVersion = "latest"
 	}
diff --git a/test/common.sh b/test/common.sh
index e9430481f12..582203cd913 100644
--- a/test/common.sh
+++ b/test/common.sh
@@ -114,7 +114,16 @@ function fetch_tools {
   if ! is_installed setup-envtest; then
     header_text "Installing setup-envtest to $(go env GOPATH)/bin"
 
-    go install sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/tools/setup-envtest@latest
+    # TODO: Current workaround for setup-envtest compatibility
+    # Due to past instances where controller-runtime maintainers released
+    # versions without corresponding branches, directly relying on branches
+    # poses a risk of breaking the Kubebuilder chain. Such practices may
+    # change over time, potentially leading to compatibility issues. This
+    # approach, although not ideal, remains the best solution for ensuring
+    # compatibility with controller-runtime releases as of now. For more
+    # details on the quest for a more robust solution, refer to the issue
+    # raised in the controller-runtime repository: https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/controller-runtime/issues/2744
+    go install sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/tools/setup-envtest@release-0.17
   fi
 
   if [ -z "$SKIP_FETCH_TOOLS" ]; then
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup-with-deploy-image/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup-with-deploy-image/Makefile
index c38d0294813..36c5471b0b8 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup-with-deploy-image/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup-with-deploy-image/Makefile
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ GOLANGCI_LINT = $(LOCALBIN)/golangci-lint-$(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)
 ## Tool Versions
 KUSTOMIZE_VERSION ?= v5.3.0
 CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.14.0
-ENVTEST_VERSION ?= latest
+ENVTEST_VERSION ?= release-0.14
 GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION ?= v1.54.2
 
 .PHONY: kustomize
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
index c38d0294813..36c5471b0b8 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ GOLANGCI_LINT = $(LOCALBIN)/golangci-lint-$(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)
 ## Tool Versions
 KUSTOMIZE_VERSION ?= v5.3.0
 CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.14.0
-ENVTEST_VERSION ?= latest
+ENVTEST_VERSION ?= release-0.14
 GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION ?= v1.54.2
 
 .PHONY: kustomize
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-deploy-image/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-with-deploy-image/Makefile
index c38d0294813..36c5471b0b8 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-deploy-image/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-deploy-image/Makefile
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ GOLANGCI_LINT = $(LOCALBIN)/golangci-lint-$(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)
 ## Tool Versions
 KUSTOMIZE_VERSION ?= v5.3.0
 CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.14.0
-ENVTEST_VERSION ?= latest
+ENVTEST_VERSION ?= release-0.14
 GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION ?= v1.54.2
 
 .PHONY: kustomize
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-grafana/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-with-grafana/Makefile
index c38d0294813..36c5471b0b8 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-grafana/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-grafana/Makefile
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ GOLANGCI_LINT = $(LOCALBIN)/golangci-lint-$(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)
 ## Tool Versions
 KUSTOMIZE_VERSION ?= v5.3.0
 CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.14.0
-ENVTEST_VERSION ?= latest
+ENVTEST_VERSION ?= release-0.14
 GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION ?= v1.54.2
 
 .PHONY: kustomize
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
index c38d0294813..36c5471b0b8 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ GOLANGCI_LINT = $(LOCALBIN)/golangci-lint-$(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)
 ## Tool Versions
 KUSTOMIZE_VERSION ?= v5.3.0
 CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.14.0
-ENVTEST_VERSION ?= latest
+ENVTEST_VERSION ?= release-0.14
 GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION ?= v1.54.2
 
 .PHONY: kustomize