diff --git a/charts/k8up/Chart.yaml b/charts/k8up/Chart.yaml
index 2c9a308aa..5ba505310 100644
--- a/charts/k8up/Chart.yaml
+++ b/charts/k8up/Chart.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ keywords:
   - backup
   - operator
   - restic
-version: 4.5.0
+version: 4.5.1
 sources:
   - https://github.com/k8up-io/k8up
 maintainers:
diff --git a/charts/k8up/README.md b/charts/k8up/README.md
index 47544d633..bf7e622f2 100644
--- a/charts/k8up/README.md
+++ b/charts/k8up/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # k8up
 
-![Version: 4.5.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-4.5.0-informational?style=flat-square)
+![Version: 4.5.1](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-4.5.1-informational?style=flat-square)
 
 Kubernetes and OpenShift Backup Operator based on restic
 
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ helm repo add k8up-io https://k8up-io.github.io/k8up
 helm install k8up k8up-io/k8up
 ```
 ```bash
-kubectl apply -f https://github.com/k8up-io/k8up/releases/download/k8up-4.5.0/k8up-crd.yaml
+kubectl apply -f https://github.com/k8up-io/k8up/releases/download/k8up-4.5.1/k8up-crd.yaml
 ```
 
 <!---
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ Document your changes in values.yaml and let `make docs:helm` generate this sect
 | k8up.globalResources.requests.cpu | string | `""` | Global CPU resource requests applied to jobs. See [supported units][resource-units]. |
 | k8up.globalResources.requests.memory | string | `""` | Global Memory resource requests applied to jobs. See [supported units][resource-units]. |
 | k8up.operatorNamespace | string | `""` | Specifies the namespace in which K8up's `EffectiveSchedules` are stored. Defaults to release namespace if left empty. |
+| k8up.skipWithoutAnnotation | bool | `false` | Specifies whether K8up should ignore PVCs without the backup annotation (by default, `k8up.io/backup`) |
 | k8up.timezone | string | `""` | Specifies the timezone K8up is using for scheduling. Empty value defaults to the timezone in which Kubernetes is deployed. Accepts `tz database` compatible entries, e.g. `Europe/Zurich` |
 | metrics.prometheusRule.additionalLabels | object | `{}` | Add labels to the PrometheusRule object |
 | metrics.prometheusRule.additionalRules | list | `[]` | Provide additional alert rules in addition to the defaults |
diff --git a/charts/k8up/templates/deployment.yaml b/charts/k8up/templates/deployment.yaml
index 6f0a45cc1..fbceb5b02 100644
--- a/charts/k8up/templates/deployment.yaml
+++ b/charts/k8up/templates/deployment.yaml
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ spec:
           {{- end }}
             - name: BACKUP_ENABLE_LEADER_ELECTION
               value: "{{ .Values.k8up.enableLeaderElection }}"
+            - name: BACKUP_SKIP_WITHOUT_ANNOTATION
+              value: "{{ .Values.k8up.skipWithoutAnnotation }}"
             - name: BACKUP_OPERATOR_NAMESPACE
           {{- if .Values.k8up.operatorNamespace }}
               value: "{{ .Values.k8up.operatorNamespace }}"
diff --git a/charts/k8up/test/deployment_test.go b/charts/k8up/test/deployment_test.go
index 6be47f2fc..ebab14a3f 100644
--- a/charts/k8up/test/deployment_test.go
+++ b/charts/k8up/test/deployment_test.go
@@ -37,12 +37,13 @@ func Test_Deployment_ShouldRender_EnvironmentVariables(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equalf(t, wantRepo+":"+wantTag, envs[0].Value, "Deployment does not use required Env Value from %s", wantVar)
 	assert.Equal(t, "TZ", envs[1].Name)
 	assert.Equal(t, wantTimezone, envs[1].Value)
-	assert.Equal(t, "BACKUP_OPERATOR_NAMESPACE", envs[3].Name)
-	assert.Equal(t, "metadata.namespace", envs[3].ValueFrom.FieldRef.FieldPath)
-	assert.Equal(t, "BACKUP_GLOBALCPU_REQUEST", envs[4].Name, "Deployment does not use configured Env Name")
-	assert.Equal(t, wantCpuRequest, envs[4].Value, "Deployment does not use configured Env Value")
-	assert.Equal(t, "VARIABLE", envs[5].Name, "Deployment does not use configured Env Name")
-	assert.Equal(t, "VALUE", envs[5].Value, "Deployment does not use configured Env Value")
+	assert.Equal(t, "BACKUP_SKIP_WITHOUT_ANNOTATION", envs[3].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "BACKUP_OPERATOR_NAMESPACE", envs[4].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "metadata.namespace", envs[4].ValueFrom.FieldRef.FieldPath)
+	assert.Equal(t, "BACKUP_GLOBALCPU_REQUEST", envs[5].Name, "Deployment does not use configured Env Name")
+	assert.Equal(t, wantCpuRequest, envs[5].Value, "Deployment does not use configured Env Value")
+	assert.Equal(t, "VARIABLE", envs[6].Name, "Deployment does not use configured Env Name")
+	assert.Equal(t, "VALUE", envs[6].Value, "Deployment does not use configured Env Value")
 }
 
 func Test_Deployment_ShouldRender_Affinity(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/charts/k8up/values.yaml b/charts/k8up/values.yaml
index 6897c4e03..47e18e1de 100644
--- a/charts/k8up/values.yaml
+++ b/charts/k8up/values.yaml
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ k8up:
   # -- Specifies whether leader election should be enabled.
   enableLeaderElection: true
 
+  # -- Specifies whether K8up should ignore PVCs without the backup annotation (by default, `k8up.io/backup`)
+  skipWithoutAnnotation: false
+
   # -- Specifies the namespace in which K8up's `EffectiveSchedules` are stored.
   # Defaults to release namespace if left empty.
   operatorNamespace: ""
diff --git a/cmd/operator/main.go b/cmd/operator/main.go
index 90df903ae..e4eefa99c 100644
--- a/cmd/operator/main.go
+++ b/cmd/operator/main.go
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ var (
 			&cli.StringFlag{Destination: &cfg.Config.PodExecRoleName, Name: "podexecrolename", EnvVars: []string{"BACKUP_PODEXECROLENAME"}, Value: "pod-executor", Usage: "set the role name that should be used for pod command execution"},
 
 			&cli.BoolFlag{Destination: &cfg.Config.EnableLeaderElection, Name: "enable-leader-election", EnvVars: []string{"BACKUP_ENABLE_LEADER_ELECTION"}, Value: true, DefaultText: "enabled", Usage: "enable leader election within the operator Pod"},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{Destination: &cfg.Config.SkipWithoutAnnotation, Name: "skip-pvcs-without-annotation", EnvVars: []string{"BACKUP_SKIP_WITHOUT_ANNOTATION"}, Value: false, DefaultText: "disabled", Usage: "skip selecting PVCs that don't have the BACKUP_ANNOTATION"},
 			&cli.StringFlag{Destination: &cfg.Config.BackupCheckSchedule, Name: "checkschedule", EnvVars: []string{"BACKUP_CHECKSCHEDULE"}, Value: "0 0 * * 0", Usage: "the default check schedule"},
 			&cli.StringFlag{Destination: &cfg.Config.OperatorNamespace, Name: "operator-namespace", EnvVars: []string{"BACKUP_OPERATOR_NAMESPACE"}, Required: true, Usage: "set the namespace in which the K8up operator itself runs"},
 		},
diff --git a/docs/modules/ROOT/examples/usage/operator.txt b/docs/modules/ROOT/examples/usage/operator.txt
index d0aa62877..928e124fd 100644
--- a/docs/modules/ROOT/examples/usage/operator.txt
+++ b/docs/modules/ROOT/examples/usage/operator.txt
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ OPTIONS:
    --podexecaccountname value, --serviceaccount value  set the service account name that should be used for the pod command execution (default: "pod-executor") [$BACKUP_PODEXECACCOUNTNAME]
    --podexecrolename value                             set the role name that should be used for pod command execution (default: "pod-executor") [$BACKUP_PODEXECROLENAME]
    --enable-leader-election                            enable leader election within the operator Pod (default: enabled) [$BACKUP_ENABLE_LEADER_ELECTION]
+   --skip-pvcs-without-annotation                      skip selecting PVCs that don't have the BACKUP_ANNOTATION (default: disabled) [$BACKUP_SKIP_WITHOUT_ANNOTATION]
    --checkschedule value                               the default check schedule (default: "0 0 * * 0") [$BACKUP_CHECKSCHEDULE]
    --operator-namespace value                          set the namespace in which the K8up operator itself runs [$BACKUP_OPERATOR_NAMESPACE]
    --help, -h                                          show help (default: false)
diff --git a/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/application-aware-backups.adoc b/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/application-aware-backups.adoc
index 9efa3fd94..12ac23c33 100644
--- a/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/application-aware-backups.adoc
+++ b/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/application-aware-backups.adoc
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ Tested with:
 
 But it should work with any command that has the ability to output the backup to stdout.
 
+TIP: By default, all PVCs are backed up automatically. If you are using Application-Aware Backups and want to skip backing up any related PVCs, adding the annotation `k8up.io/backup=false` to a PVC object will exclude it from all following backups. Alternatively, you can set the environment variable `BACKUP_SKIP_WITHOUT_ANNOTATION=true` if you want K8up to ignore objects without the annotation.
+
 == PostgreSQL
 
 Note that the PostgreSQL image used requires the utility `pg_dump`.
diff --git a/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/backup.adoc b/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/backup.adoc
index ddc261dab..bcdf928c1 100644
--- a/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/backup.adoc
+++ b/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/backup.adoc
@@ -10,3 +10,5 @@ include::example$tutorial/backup.yaml[]
 Save the YAML above in a file named `backup.yaml` and use the `kubectl apply -f backup.yaml` command to deploy this configuration to your cluster.
 
 TIP: To have backups run automatically at a regular interval look at xref:how-tos/schedules.adoc[schedules].
+
+TIP: By default, all PVCs are backed up automatically. Adding the annotation `k8up.io/backup=false` to a PVC object will exclude it from all following backups. Alternatively, you can set the environment variable `BACKUP_SKIP_WITHOUT_ANNOTATION=true` if you want K8up to ignore objects without the annotation.
diff --git a/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/schedules.adoc b/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/schedules.adoc
index f9a33c532..f86fb58bd 100644
--- a/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/schedules.adoc
+++ b/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/how-tos/schedules.adoc
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@ The file above will instruct the Operator to do backups every 5 minute, prune th
 
 Feel free to adjust the frequencies to your liking. To help you with the crontab syntax, we recommend to check out https://crontab.guru[crontab.guru].
 
-TIP: You can always check the state and configuration of your backup by using `kubectl describe schedule`. By default, all PVCs are backed up automatically. Adding the annotation `k8up.io/backup=false` to a PVC object will excluded it from all following backup.
+TIP: You can always check the state and configuration of your backup by using `kubectl describe schedule`. By default, all PVCs are backed up automatically. Adding the annotation `k8up.io/backup=false` to a PVC object will exclude it from all following backups. Alternatively, you can set the environment variable `BACKUP_SKIP_WITHOUT_ANNOTATION=true` if you want K8up to ignore objects without the annotation.
diff --git a/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/references/annotations.adoc b/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/references/annotations.adoc
index b8340fe16..ed4a75d9d 100644
--- a/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/references/annotations.adoc
+++ b/docs/modules/ROOT/pages/references/annotations.adoc
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ See xref:references/operator-config-reference.adoc[Operator Configuration refere
 |Annotation |Description |Accepted Values |Applicable Resources |xref:references/operator-config-reference.adoc[Configuration Option]
 
 |`k8up.io/backup`
-|If defined, this influences whether this pod shall be backed up (`true`) or not (`false`)
+|If defined, this influences whether this Pod/PVC shall be backed up (`true`) or not (`false`). If omitted, K8up will default to `true`, unless `$BACKUP_SKIP_WITHOUT_ANNOTATION` is set to `true`.
 |Either `'true'` or `'false'`
 |`Pod`, `PersistentVolumeClaim`
 |`BACKUP_ANNOTATION`
diff --git a/operator/backupcontroller/executor.go b/operator/backupcontroller/executor.go
index a921e596f..32456029f 100644
--- a/operator/backupcontroller/executor.go
+++ b/operator/backupcontroller/executor.go
@@ -98,7 +98,12 @@ func (b *BackupExecutor) listAndFilterPVCs(ctx context.Context, annotation strin
 		}
 
 		if !hasBackupAnnotation {
-			log.Info("PVC doesn't have annotation, adding to list", "pvc", pvc.GetName())
+			if cfg.Config.SkipWithoutAnnotation {
+				log.Info("PVC doesn't have annotation and BACKUP_SKIP_WITHOUT_ANNOTATION is true, skipping PVC", "pvc", pvc.GetName())
+				continue
+			} else {
+				log.Info("PVC doesn't have annotation, adding to list", "pvc", pvc.GetName())
+			}
 		} else if shouldBackup, _ := strconv.ParseBool(backupAnnotation); !shouldBackup {
 			log.Info("PVC skipped due to annotation", "pvc", pvc.GetName(), "annotation", backupAnnotation)
 			continue
diff --git a/operator/cfg/config.go b/operator/cfg/config.go
index ac732ee06..086d526f7 100644
--- a/operator/cfg/config.go
+++ b/operator/cfg/config.go
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ type Configuration struct {
 	PodFilter                        string
 	PromURL                          string
 	RestartPolicy                    string
+	SkipWithoutAnnotation            bool
 
 	// Enabling this will ensure there is only one active controller manager.
 	EnableLeaderElection bool