diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 25b8fecd..477ffb52 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -117,9 +117,9 @@ test-all: clean-all install-ci-tools verify-gen lint metalint test-all-gen bins
 	@echo "--- $@"
 
 .PHONY: test
-test: test-base
+test: install-ci-tools test-base
 	@echo "--- $@"
-	gocov convert $(coverfile) | gocov report
+	@PATH=$(combined_bin_paths):$(PATH) gocov convert $(coverfile) | gocov report
 
 .PHONY: test-e2e
 test-e2e:
diff --git a/pkg/k8sops/generators_test.go b/pkg/k8sops/generators_test.go
index 3f3e21de..12ceb218 100644
--- a/pkg/k8sops/generators_test.go
+++ b/pkg/k8sops/generators_test.go
@@ -353,6 +353,21 @@ func TestGenerateStatefulSet(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.NotNil(t, newSS)
 	assert.Equal(t, ss, newSS)
+
+	// Make sure nil security context adds one with SYS_RESOURCE
+	ss = baseSS.DeepCopy()
+	ss.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].SecurityContext = &v1.SecurityContext{
+		Capabilities: &v1.Capabilities{
+			Add: []v1.Capability{v1.Capability("SYS_RESOURCE")},
+		},
+	}
+	fixture = getFixture("testM3DBCluster.yaml", t)
+	fixture.Spec.SecurityContext = nil
+
+	newSS, err = GenerateStatefulSet(fixture, isolationGroup, *instanceAmount)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.NotNil(t, newSS)
+	assert.Equal(t, ss, newSS)
 }
 
 func TestGenerateM3DBService(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/pkg/k8sops/statefulset.go b/pkg/k8sops/statefulset.go
index 757fe697..deffd6ed 100644
--- a/pkg/k8sops/statefulset.go
+++ b/pkg/k8sops/statefulset.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import (
 const (
 	podIdentityVolumePath = "/etc/m3db/pod-identity"
 	podIdentityVolumeName = "pod-identity"
+	capabilitySysResource = v1.Capability("SYS_RESOURCE")
 )
 
 var (
@@ -46,8 +47,6 @@ var (
 	errEmptyNodeAffinityValues = errors.New("node affinity term values cannot be empty")
 )
 
-// NewBaseProbe returns a probe configured for default ports.
-
 // NewBaseStatefulSet returns a base configured stateful set.
 func NewBaseStatefulSet(ssName, isolationGroup string, cluster *myspec.M3DBCluster, instanceCount int32) *appsv1.StatefulSet {
 	ic := instanceCount
@@ -94,6 +93,17 @@ func NewBaseStatefulSet(ssName, isolationGroup string, cluster *myspec.M3DBClust
 		},
 	}
 
+	// If security context is nil, add one with SYS_RESOURCE (required to raise
+	// rlimit nofile from the process in container)
+	specSecurityCtx := cluster.Spec.SecurityContext
+	if specSecurityCtx == nil {
+		specSecurityCtx = &v1.SecurityContext{
+			Capabilities: &v1.Capabilities{
+				Add: []v1.Capability{capabilitySysResource},
+			},
+		}
+	}
+
 	return &appsv1.StatefulSet{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 			Name:        ssName,
@@ -117,7 +127,7 @@ func NewBaseStatefulSet(ssName, isolationGroup string, cluster *myspec.M3DBClust
 					Containers: []v1.Container{
 						{
 							Name:            ssName,
-							SecurityContext: cluster.Spec.SecurityContext,
+							SecurityContext: specSecurityCtx,
 							ReadinessProbe:  probeReady,
 							LivenessProbe:   probeHealth,
 							Command: []string{
diff --git a/tools.json b/tools.json
index 36b2b892..b28b3128 100644
--- a/tools.json
+++ b/tools.json
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@
     {
       "Repository": "github.com/kubernetes/kube-openapi/cmd/openapi-gen",
       "Commit": "b52b5b0f5a7c473a00ca5580c49c83449146ac17"
+    },
+    {
+      "Repository": "github.com/axw/gocov",
+      "Commit": "b6eca663ebb7e7ef9798914d19f53ba2c6f74c96"
     }
   ],
   "RetoolVersion": "1.3.7"