diff --git a/pkg/common/common.go b/pkg/common/common.go
index de37ad86..45de1f19 100644
--- a/pkg/common/common.go
+++ b/pkg/common/common.go
@@ -276,7 +276,11 @@ func ShouldReload(config Config, resourceType string, annotations Map, podAnnota
 	values := strings.Split(annotationValue, ",")
 	for _, value := range values {
 		value = strings.TrimSpace(value)
-		re := regexp.MustCompile("^" + value + "$")
+		re, err := regexp.Compile("^" + value + "$")
+		if err != nil {
+			logrus.Errorf("Invalid regex %q in reload annotation %q on resource '%s' of type '%s'; skipping this pattern: %v", value, config.Annotation, config.ResourceName, config.Type, err)
+			continue
+		}
 		if re.Match([]byte(config.ResourceName)) {
 			return ReloadCheckResult{
 				ShouldReload: true,
diff --git a/pkg/common/common_test.go b/pkg/common/common_test.go
index 532d3adf..0bbdab54 100644
--- a/pkg/common/common_test.go
+++ b/pkg/common/common_test.go
@@ -222,3 +222,27 @@ func TestShouldReload_IssueRBACPermissionFixed(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// A malformed regex in a named reload annotation must not panic the operator.
+// Regression test: previously regexp.MustCompile("^"+value+"$") panicked on an
+// invalid pattern, crashing Reloader cluster-wide (no recover on the worker).
+func TestShouldReload_InvalidRegexAnnotation_DoesNotPanic(t *testing.T) {
+	config := Config{
+		ResourceName: "app-config",
+		Annotation:   "secret.reloader.stakater.com/reload",
+	}
+	annotations := Map{
+		// unbalanced bracket => invalid regex
+		"secret.reloader.stakater.com/reload": "app-config[",
+	}
+	opts := &ReloaderOptions{
+		ReloaderAutoAnnotation: "reloader.stakater.com/auto",
+	}
+
+	// Before the fix this panicked inside ShouldReload.
+	result := ShouldReload(config, "Deployment", annotations, Map{}, opts)
+
+	if result.ShouldReload {
+		t.Errorf("Expected ShouldReload=false for an invalid regex pattern, got=%v", result.ShouldReload)
+	}
+}