diff --git a/cli/pkg/detect/collector.go b/cli/pkg/detect/collector.go
index 3deb2eee..9b1e170a 100644
--- a/cli/pkg/detect/collector.go
+++ b/cli/pkg/detect/collector.go
@@ -551,9 +551,11 @@ func (c *Collector) getStrimziStatus() StrimziInfo {
 	info.CRDsPresent = len(missingCRDs) == 0
 	info.Health.MissingCRDs = missingCRDs
 
-	// Find the deployment for strimzi operator (with permission-friendly namespace fallback)
+	// Find the deployment for strimzi operator (with permission-friendly namespace fallback).
+	// A refusal is an error from kubectl; the JSON of every deployment in the
+	// cluster may say "error" anywhere, a --log-level=error argument included.
 	depOut, err := c.exec.Exec("kubectl", "get", "deployment", "-A", "-o", "json")
-	if err != nil || depOut == "" || strings.Contains(depOut, "Forbidden") || strings.Contains(depOut, "error") {
+	if err != nil || depOut == "" {
 		// Fallback: check in the kafka namespace
 		depOut, _ = c.exec.Exec("kubectl", "get", "deployment", "-n", "kafka", "-o", "json")
 	}
diff --git a/cli/pkg/detect/collector_test.go b/cli/pkg/detect/collector_test.go
index 1b6fbb63..4e268915 100644
--- a/cli/pkg/detect/collector_test.go
+++ b/cli/pkg/detect/collector_test.go
@@ -165,6 +165,25 @@ func TestCollect_NoStrimzi(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// The lookup read any "error" in the JSON of every deployment as a failed
+// kubectl, so one --log-level=error argument anywhere sent it to namespace
+// kafka, and an operator in strimzi-system went unseen.
+func TestGetStrimziStatus_FindsTheOperatorBesideAnErrorLogLevel(t *testing.T) {
+	m := NewMockExecutor()
+	m.Set(`{"items":[
+	  {"metadata":{"name":"ingress-nginx-controller","namespace":"ingress"},
+	   "spec":{"template":{"spec":{"containers":[{"image":"ingress-nginx:1.12","args":["--log-level=error"]}]}}}},
+	  {"metadata":{"name":"strimzi-cluster-operator","namespace":"strimzi-system"},
+	   "spec":{"template":{"spec":{"containers":[{"image":"quay.io/strimzi/operator:0.48.0"}]}}},
+	   "status":{"readyReplicas":1,"replicas":1}}]}`,
+		"kubectl", "get", "deployment", "-A", "-o", "json")
+
+	info := NewCollector(m).getStrimziStatus()
+	if !info.Running || info.Namespace != "strimzi-system" || info.Image != "quay.io/strimzi/operator:0.48.0" {
+		t.Errorf("Running %v in %q with image %q, want the operator in strimzi-system", info.Running, info.Namespace, info.Image)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestCollect_SingleZone(t *testing.T) {
 	singleNodeJSON := `{
   "items": [