diff --git a/cmd/kyverno/main.go b/cmd/kyverno/main.go
index 80044f5005..c54a1480b1 100755
--- a/cmd/kyverno/main.go
+++ b/cmd/kyverno/main.go
@@ -138,13 +138,14 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		setupLog.Error(err, "ConfigMap lookup disabled: failed to create resource cache")
 	}
-
+	debug := serverIP != ""
 	webhookCfg := webhookconfig.NewRegister(
 		clientConfig,
 		client,
 		rCache,
 		serverIP,
 		int32(webhookTimeout),
+		debug,
 		log.Log)
 
 	// Resource Mutating Webhook Watcher
@@ -334,7 +335,6 @@ func main() {
 	// -- annotations on resources with update details on mutation JSON patches
 	// -- generate policy violation resource
 	// -- generate events on policy and resource
-	debug := serverIP != ""
 	server, err := webhooks.NewWebhookServer(
 		pclient,
 		client,
diff --git a/pkg/webhookconfig/registration.go b/pkg/webhookconfig/registration.go
index 208ac9a9ee..b6c57234c7 100644
--- a/pkg/webhookconfig/registration.go
+++ b/pkg/webhookconfig/registration.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ type Register struct {
 	serverIP       string // when running outside a cluster
 	timeoutSeconds int32
 	log            logr.Logger
+	debug          bool
 }
 
 // NewRegister creates new Register instance
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ func NewRegister(
 	resCache resourcecache.ResourceCache,
 	serverIP string,
 	webhookTimeout int32,
+	debug bool,
 	log logr.Logger) *Register {
 	return &Register{
 		clientConfig:   clientConfig,
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@ func NewRegister(
 		serverIP:       serverIP,
 		timeoutSeconds: webhookTimeout,
 		log:            log.WithName("Register"),
+		debug:          debug,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -65,10 +68,11 @@ func (wrc *Register) Register() error {
 	if wrc.serverIP != "" {
 		logger.Info("Registering webhook", "url", fmt.Sprintf("https://%s", wrc.serverIP))
 	}
-	if err := wrc.checkEndpoint(); err != nil {
-		return err
+	if !wrc.debug {
+		if err := wrc.checkEndpoint(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
-
 	wrc.removeWebhookConfigurations()
 
 	caData := wrc.readCaData()