diff --git a/pkg/cmd/infra/router/router.go b/pkg/cmd/infra/router/router.go
index ce79bdb38..c758cd217 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/infra/router/router.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/infra/router/router.go
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ type RouterSelection struct {
 
 	UpgradeValidation bool
 
+	UpgradeValidationForceAddCondition    bool
+	UpgradeValidationForceRemoveCondition bool
+
 	ListenAddr string
 
 	// WatchEndpoints when true will watch Endpoints instead of
@@ -98,6 +101,8 @@ func (o *RouterSelection) Bind(flag *pflag.FlagSet) {
 	flag.BoolVar(&o.DisableNamespaceOwnershipCheck, "disable-namespace-ownership-check", isTrue(env("ROUTER_DISABLE_NAMESPACE_OWNERSHIP_CHECK", "")), "Disables the namespace ownership checks for a route host with different paths or for overlapping host names in the case of wildcard routes. Please be aware that if namespace ownership checks are disabled, routes in a different namespace can use this mechanism to 'steal' sub-paths for existing domains. This is only safe if route creation privileges are restricted, or if all the users can be trusted.")
 	flag.BoolVar(&o.ExtendedValidation, "extended-validation", isTrue(env("EXTENDED_VALIDATION", "true")), "If set, then an additional extended validation step is performed on all routes processed by this router. Defaults to true and enables the extended validation checks.")
 	flag.BoolVar(&o.UpgradeValidation, "upgrade-validation", isTrue(env("UPGRADE_VALIDATION", "true")), "If set, then an additional upgrade validation step is performed on all routes processed by this router. Defaults to true and enables the upgrade validation checks.")
+	flag.BoolVar(&o.UpgradeValidationForceAddCondition, "debug-upgrade-validation-force-add-condition", isTrue(env("DEBUG_UPGRADE_VALIDATION_FORCE_ADD_CONDITION", "")), "If set, then the upgrade validation plugin will forcibly add the UnservableInFutureVersions condition. For testing purposes only.")
+	flag.BoolVar(&o.UpgradeValidationForceRemoveCondition, "debug-upgrade-validation-force-remove-condition", isTrue(env("DEBUG_UPGRADE_VALIDATION_FORCE_REMOVE_CONDITION", "")), "If set, then the upgrade validation plugin will forcibly remove the UnservableInFutureVersions condition. For testing purposes only.")
 	flag.Bool("enable-ingress", false, "Enable configuration via ingress resources.")
 	flag.MarkDeprecated("enable-ingress", "Ingress resources are now synchronized to routes automatically.")
 	flag.StringVar(&o.ListenAddr, "listen-addr", env("ROUTER_LISTEN_ADDR", ""), "The name of an interface to listen on to expose metrics and health checking. If not specified, will not listen. Overrides stats port.")
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/infra/router/template.go b/pkg/cmd/infra/router/template.go
index 3b929709e..d92ae7060 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/infra/router/template.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/infra/router/template.go
@@ -799,7 +799,7 @@ func (o *TemplateRouterOptions) Run(stopCh <-chan struct{}) error {
 		plugin = status
 	}
 	if o.UpgradeValidation {
-		plugin = controller.NewUpgradeValidation(plugin, recorder)
+		plugin = controller.NewUpgradeValidation(plugin, recorder, o.UpgradeValidationForceAddCondition, o.UpgradeValidationForceRemoveCondition)
 	}
 	if o.ExtendedValidation {
 		plugin = controller.NewExtendedValidator(plugin, recorder)
diff --git a/pkg/router/controller/upgrade_validation.go b/pkg/router/controller/upgrade_validation.go
index dbed9d31a..3996c563a 100644
--- a/pkg/router/controller/upgrade_validation.go
+++ b/pkg/router/controller/upgrade_validation.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package controller
 
 import (
 	kapi "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
-
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/watch"
 
@@ -19,16 +18,24 @@ type UpgradeValidation struct {
 
 	// recorder is an interface for indicating route status.
 	recorder RouteStatusRecorder
+
+	// forceAddCondition indicates the plugin should forcibly add the condition.
+	forceAddCondition bool
+
+	// forceRemoveCondition indicates the plugin should forcibly remove the condition.
+	forceRemoveCondition bool
 }
 
 // NewUpgradeValidation creates a plugin wrapper that validates for upgrades
 // and adds an UnservableInFutureVersions status if needed. It does not stop
 // the plugin chain if the route is unservable in future versions.
 // Recorder is an interface for indicating routes status update.
-func NewUpgradeValidation(plugin router.Plugin, recorder RouteStatusRecorder) *UpgradeValidation {
+func NewUpgradeValidation(plugin router.Plugin, recorder RouteStatusRecorder, forceAddCondition, forceRemoveCondition bool) *UpgradeValidation {
 	return &UpgradeValidation{
-		plugin:   plugin,
-		recorder: recorder,
+		plugin:               plugin,
+		recorder:             recorder,
+		forceAddCondition:    forceAddCondition,
+		forceRemoveCondition: forceRemoveCondition,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -47,6 +54,18 @@ func (p *UpgradeValidation) HandleEndpoints(eventType watch.EventType, endpoints
 // and sets UnservableInFutureVersions condition if needed.
 func (p *UpgradeValidation) HandleRoute(eventType watch.EventType, route *routev1.Route) error {
 	routeName := routeNameKey(route)
+
+	// Force add and force removal logic for debugging and testing.
+	if p.forceAddCondition {
+		log.Info("force adding UnservableInFutureVersions condition in upgrade validation", "conditionType", p.forceRemoveCondition, "route", routeName)
+		p.recorder.RecordRouteUnservableInFutureVersions(route, "ForceUpgradeValidationCondition", "forced upgrade validation condition")
+		return p.plugin.HandleRoute(eventType, route)
+	} else if p.forceRemoveCondition {
+		log.Info("force removing UnservableInFutureVersions condition in upgrade validation", "conditionType", p.forceRemoveCondition, "route", routeName)
+		p.recorder.RecordRouteUnservableInFutureVersionsClear(route)
+		return p.plugin.HandleRoute(eventType, route)
+	}
+
 	if err := routeapihelpers.UpgradeRouteValidation(route).ToAggregate(); err != nil {
 		log.Error(err, "route failed upgrade validation", "route", routeName)
 		p.recorder.RecordRouteUnservableInFutureVersions(route, "UpgradeRouteValidationFailed", err.Error())
diff --git a/pkg/router/template/plugin_test.go b/pkg/router/template/plugin_test.go
index e520ef8d0..f84477484 100644
--- a/pkg/router/template/plugin_test.go
+++ b/pkg/router/template/plugin_test.go
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ func TestHandleRouteExtendedValidation(t *testing.T) {
 func TestHandleRouteUpgradeValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	rejections := &fakeStatusRecorder{}
 	fake := &fakePlugin{}
-	plugin := controller.NewUpgradeValidation(fake, rejections)
+	plugin := controller.NewUpgradeValidation(fake, rejections, false, false)
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		name                               string