diff --git a/class/defaults.yml b/class/defaults.yml
index c337e94..721039d 100644
--- a/class/defaults.yml
+++ b/class/defaults.yml
@@ -18,4 +18,5 @@ parameters:
         image: quay.io/argoproj/argocd
         tag: 'v2.9.2@sha256:8576d347f30fa4c56a0129d1c0a0f5ed1e75662f0499f1ed7e917c405fd909dc'
 
+    priority_class: system-cluster-critical
     additional_facts: {}
diff --git a/component/main.jsonnet b/component/main.jsonnet
index f14177a..9f11684 100644
--- a/component/main.jsonnet
+++ b/component/main.jsonnet
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ local deployment = kube.Deployment('steward') {
             },
           },
         },
+        priorityClassName: params.priority_class,
         serviceAccountName: service_account.metadata.name,
       },
     },
diff --git a/tests/golden/defaults/steward/steward/10_deployment.yaml b/tests/golden/defaults/steward/steward/10_deployment.yaml
index 38d6df5..0331115 100644
--- a/tests/golden/defaults/steward/steward/10_deployment.yaml
+++ b/tests/golden/defaults/steward/steward/10_deployment.yaml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ spec:
           volumeMounts: []
       imagePullSecrets: []
       initContainers: []
+      priorityClassName: system-cluster-critical
       serviceAccountName: steward
       terminationGracePeriodSeconds: 30
       volumes: []