diff --git a/tests/framework/installer/ceph_installer.go b/tests/framework/installer/ceph_installer.go
index 901607d67..41a08414e 100644
--- a/tests/framework/installer/ceph_installer.go
+++ b/tests/framework/installer/ceph_installer.go
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ func (h *CephInstaller) CreateCephCRDs() error {
 			return err
 		}
 
+		// ensure all the cluster CRDs are removed
+		if err = h.k8shelper.PurgeClusters(); err != nil {
+			logger.Warningf("could not purge cluster crds. %+v", err)
+		}
+
 		// remove the finalizer from the cluster CRD
 		if _, err := h.k8shelper.Kubectl("patch", "crd", "clusters.ceph.rook.io", "-p", `{"metadata":{"finalizers": []}}`, "--type=merge"); err != nil {
 			logger.Warningf("could not remove finalizer from cluster crd. %+v", err)
diff --git a/tests/framework/utils/k8s_helper.go b/tests/framework/utils/k8s_helper.go
index 488808ed3..f4f2c2eda 100644
--- a/tests/framework/utils/k8s_helper.go
+++ b/tests/framework/utils/k8s_helper.go
@@ -126,6 +126,35 @@ func (k8sh *K8sHelper) Kubectl(args ...string) (string, error) {
 	return result, nil
 }
 
+func (k8sh *K8sHelper) PurgeClusters() error {
+	// get all namespaces
+	namespaces, err := k8sh.Clientset.CoreV1().Namespaces().List(metav1.ListOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get namespaces to remove finalizers. %+v", err)
+	}
+
+	// look for the clusters in all namespaces
+	for _, n := range namespaces.Items {
+		namespace := n.Name
+		logger.Infof("looking in namespace %s for clusters to purge", namespace)
+		clusters, err := k8sh.RookClientset.CephV1beta1().Clusters(namespace).List(metav1.ListOptions{})
+		if err != nil {
+			logger.Warningf("failed to get clusters in namespace %s. %+v", namespace, err)
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, cluster := range clusters.Items {
+			logger.Infof("Ensuring rook cluster crd %s in namespace %s is deleted", cluster.Name, namespace)
+			if _, err := k8sh.Kubectl("patch", "clusters.ceph.rook.io", cluster.Name, "-n", namespace, "-p", `{"metadata":{"finalizers": []}}`, "--type=merge"); err != nil {
+				logger.Warningf("failed to remove finalizer from cluster %s. %+v", cluster.Name, err)
+			}
+			if err := k8sh.RookClientset.CephV1beta1().Clusters(namespace).Delete(cluster.Name, &metav1.DeleteOptions{}); err != nil {
+				logger.Warningf("failed to delete cluster %s", cluster.Name)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 //KubectlWithStdin is wrapper for executing kubectl commands in stdin
 func (k8sh *K8sHelper) KubectlWithStdin(stdin string, args ...string) (string, error) {