diff --git a/infra/feast-operator/api/v1alpha1/featurestore_types.go b/infra/feast-operator/api/v1alpha1/featurestore_types.go
index 440518db74..2b6c92bca9 100644
--- a/infra/feast-operator/api/v1alpha1/featurestore_types.go
+++ b/infra/feast-operator/api/v1alpha1/featurestore_types.go
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ limitations under the License.
 package v1alpha1
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 )
@@ -91,6 +93,21 @@ var ValidOfflineStoreFilePersistenceTypes = []string{
 	"duckdb",
 }
 
+var validOfflineStoreFilePersistenceType = []string{
+	"dask",
+	"duckdb",
+}
+
+// A function to validate the file persistence types for offline stores
+func IsValidOfflineStoreFilePersistenceType(value string) (bool, error) {
+	for _, v := range validOfflineStoreFilePersistenceType {
+		if v == value {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return false, fmt.Errorf("invalid  file type %s for offline store", value)
+}
+
 // OnlineStore configures the deployed online store service
 type OnlineStore struct {
 	ServiceConfigs `json:",inline"`
diff --git a/infra/feast-operator/internal/controller/featurestore_controller.go b/infra/feast-operator/internal/controller/featurestore_controller.go
index 7c78b79d59..708e17efae 100644
--- a/infra/feast-operator/internal/controller/featurestore_controller.go
+++ b/infra/feast-operator/internal/controller/featurestore_controller.go
@@ -77,7 +77,11 @@ func (r *FeatureStoreReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request
 	currentStatus := cr.Status.DeepCopy()
 
 	// initial status defaults must occur before feast deployment
-	services.ApplyDefaultsToStatus(cr)
+	if err := services.ApplyDefaultsToStatus(cr); err != nil {
+		logger.Error(err, "Error updating the FeatureStore status")
+		result = ctrl.Result{Requeue: true, RequeueAfter: RequeueDelayError}
+		return result, err
+	}
 	result, recErr = r.deployFeast(ctx, cr)
 	if cr.DeletionTimestamp == nil && !reflect.DeepEqual(currentStatus, cr.Status) {
 		if err = r.Client.Status().Update(ctx, cr); err != nil {