diff --git a/doc/source/index.rst b/doc/source/index.rst
index 28cec80..76e2f6a 100644
--- a/doc/source/index.rst
+++ b/doc/source/index.rst
@@ -320,6 +320,15 @@ verbatim):
 
             The key name in the secret should be ``dburi``.
 
+         .. attr:: allowUnsafeConfig
+            :default: False
+
+            If you are running in a resource constrained environment
+            (such as minikube), the requested resource values for the
+            Percona XtraDB may be too large.  Set this to True to
+            override the default values and construct the cluster
+            regardless.  Only use this for testing.
+
       .. attr:: zookeeper
 
          This is not required unless you want to manage the ZooKeeper
diff --git a/playbooks/zuul-operator-functional/run.yaml b/playbooks/zuul-operator-functional/run.yaml
index 5a58480..2b3bd9f 100644
--- a/playbooks/zuul-operator-functional/run.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/zuul-operator-functional/run.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
       include_tasks: tasks/apply_cr.yaml
       vars:
         spec:
+          database:
+            allowUnsafeConfig: true
           executor:
             count: 1
             sshkey:
diff --git a/playbooks/zuul-operator-functional/test.yaml b/playbooks/zuul-operator-functional/test.yaml
index 526f649..d87ae45 100644
--- a/playbooks/zuul-operator-functional/test.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/zuul-operator-functional/test.yaml
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@
         - include_tasks: tasks/apply_cr.yaml
           vars:
             spec:
+              database:
+                allowUnsafeConfig: true
               executor:
                 count: 1
                 sshkey:
diff --git a/zuul_operator/zuul.py b/zuul_operator/zuul.py
index b3f88bc..495e568 100644
--- a/zuul_operator/zuul.py
+++ b/zuul_operator/zuul.py
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ class Zuul:
         if not self.manage_db:
             self.log.info("DB is externally managed")
             return
-        # TODO: get this from spec
-        small = True
+
+        small = self.spec.get('database', {}).get('allowUnsafeConfig', False)
 
         self.log.info("DB is internally managed")
         self.pxc = pxc.PXC(self.api, self.namespace, self.log)