diff --git a/pkg/cmd/run_test.go b/pkg/cmd/run_test.go
index 466cf7e871..0be892b12b 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/run_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/run_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	v1 "github.com/apache/camel-k/pkg/apis/camel/v1"
+	"github.com/apache/camel-k/pkg/trait"
 	"github.com/apache/camel-k/pkg/util/test"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -172,3 +173,39 @@ func TestRunPropertyFileFlag(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, `d=c\=e`, spec.Configuration[2].Value)
 	assert.Equal(t, `f=g\:h`, spec.Configuration[3].Value)
 }
+
+func TestConfigureTraits(t *testing.T) {
+	options, rootCmd := kamelTestPreAddCommandInit()
+	runCmdOptions := addTestRunCmd(options, rootCmd)
+	kamelTestPostAddCommandInit(t, rootCmd)
+	_, err := test.ExecuteCommand(rootCmd, "run",
+		"--trait", "affinity.pod-affinity=false",
+		"--trait", "container.probes-enabled=false",
+		"--trait", "environment.container-meta=false",
+		"--trait", "jvm.print-command=false",
+		"--trait", "prometheus.service-monitor=false",
+		"example.js")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+	client, err := runCmdOptions.GetCmdClient()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+	catalog := trait.NewCatalog(runCmdOptions.Context, client)
+
+	traits, err := configureTraits(runCmdOptions.Traits, catalog)
+
+	assert.Nil(t, err)
+	assert.Len(t, traits, 5)
+	assertTraitConfiguration(t, traits, "affinity", `{"podAffinity":false}`)
+	assertTraitConfiguration(t, traits, "container", `{"probesEnabled":false}`)
+	assertTraitConfiguration(t, traits, "environment", `{"containerMeta":false}`)
+	assertTraitConfiguration(t, traits, "jvm", `{"printCommand":false}`)
+	assertTraitConfiguration(t, traits, "prometheus", `{"serviceMonitor":false}`)
+}
+
+func assertTraitConfiguration(t *testing.T, traits map[string]v1.TraitSpec, trait string, expected string) {
+	assert.Contains(t, traits, trait)
+	assert.Equal(t, expected, string(traits[trait].Configuration.RawMessage))
+}
diff --git a/pkg/trait/affinity.go b/pkg/trait/affinity.go
index 41d9969745..23d4dec3cf 100644
--- a/pkg/trait/affinity.go
+++ b/pkg/trait/affinity.go
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ import (
 type affinityTrait struct {
 	BaseTrait `property:",squash"`
 	// Always co-locates multiple replicas of the integration in the same node (default *false*).
-	PodAffinity bool `property:"pod-affinity" json:"podAffinity,omitempty"`
+	PodAffinity *bool `property:"pod-affinity" json:"podAffinity,omitempty"`
 	// Never co-locates multiple replicas of the integration in the same node (default *false*).
-	PodAntiAffinity bool `property:"pod-anti-affinity" json:"podAntiAffinity,omitempty"`
+	PodAntiAffinity *bool `property:"pod-anti-affinity" json:"podAntiAffinity,omitempty"`
 	// Defines a set of nodes the integration pod(s) are eligible to be scheduled on, based on labels on the node.
 	NodeAffinityLabels []string `property:"node-affinity-labels" json:"nodeAffinityLabels,omitempty"`
 	// Defines a set of pods (namely those matching the label selector, relative to the given namespace) that the
@@ -54,16 +54,18 @@ type affinityTrait struct {
 
 func newAffinityTrait() Trait {
 	return &affinityTrait{
-		BaseTrait: NewBaseTrait("affinity", 1300),
+		BaseTrait:       NewBaseTrait("affinity", 1300),
+		PodAffinity:     &[]bool{false}[0],
+		PodAntiAffinity: &[]bool{false}[0],
 	}
 }
 
 func (t *affinityTrait) Configure(e *Environment) (bool, error) {
-	if t.Enabled == nil || !*t.Enabled {
+	if isNilOrFalse(t.Enabled) {
 		return false, nil
 	}
 
-	if t.PodAffinity && t.PodAntiAffinity {
+	if isTrue(t.PodAffinity) && isTrue(t.PodAntiAffinity) {
 		return false, fmt.Errorf("both pod affinity and pod anti-affinity can't be set simultaneously")
 	}
 
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@ func (t *affinityTrait) addNodeAffinity(_ *Environment, deployment *appsv1.Deplo
 }
 
 func (t *affinityTrait) addPodAffinity(e *Environment, deployment *appsv1.Deployment) error {
-	if !t.PodAffinity && len(t.PodAffinityLabels) == 0 {
+	if isNilOrFalse(t.PodAffinity) && len(t.PodAffinityLabels) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -161,7 +163,7 @@ func (t *affinityTrait) addPodAffinity(e *Environment, deployment *appsv1.Deploy
 		}
 	}
 
-	if t.PodAffinity {
+	if isTrue(t.PodAffinity) {
 		labelSelectorRequirements = append(labelSelectorRequirements, metav1.LabelSelectorRequirement{
 			Key:      v1.IntegrationLabel,
 			Operator: metav1.LabelSelectorOpIn,
@@ -192,7 +194,7 @@ func (t *affinityTrait) addPodAffinity(e *Environment, deployment *appsv1.Deploy
 }
 
 func (t *affinityTrait) addPodAntiAffinity(e *Environment, deployment *appsv1.Deployment) error {
-	if !t.PodAntiAffinity && len(t.PodAntiAffinityLabels) == 0 {
+	if isNilOrFalse(t.PodAntiAffinity) && len(t.PodAntiAffinityLabels) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -217,7 +219,7 @@ func (t *affinityTrait) addPodAntiAffinity(e *Environment, deployment *appsv1.De
 		}
 	}
 
-	if t.PodAntiAffinity {
+	if isTrue(t.PodAntiAffinity) {
 		labelSelectorRequirements = append(labelSelectorRequirements, metav1.LabelSelectorRequirement{
 			Key:      v1.IntegrationLabel,
 			Operator: metav1.LabelSelectorOpIn,
diff --git a/pkg/trait/affinity_test.go b/pkg/trait/affinity_test.go
index a0e0de512a..165c5b3f49 100644
--- a/pkg/trait/affinity_test.go
+++ b/pkg/trait/affinity_test.go
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ func TestConfigureAffinityTraitDoesSucceed(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestConfigureAffinityTraitWithConflictingAffinitiesFails(t *testing.T) {
 	affinityTrait, environment, _ := createNominalAffinityTest()
-	affinityTrait.PodAffinity = true
-	affinityTrait.PodAntiAffinity = true
+	affinityTrait.PodAffinity = &[]bool{true}[0]
+	affinityTrait.PodAntiAffinity = &[]bool{true}[0]
 	configured, err := affinityTrait.Configure(environment)
 
 	assert.False(t, configured)
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func TestApplyNodeAffinityLabelsDoesSucceed(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestApplyPodAntiAffinityLabelsDoesSucceed(t *testing.T) {
 	affinityTrait, environment, deployment := createNominalAffinityTest()
-	affinityTrait.PodAntiAffinity = true
+	affinityTrait.PodAntiAffinity = &[]bool{true}[0]
 	affinityTrait.PodAntiAffinityLabels = []string{"criteria != value"}
 
 	err := affinityTrait.Apply(environment)
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestApplyPodAntiAffinityLabelsDoesSucceed(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestApplyPodAffinityLabelsDoesSucceed(t *testing.T) {
 	affinityTrait, environment, deployment := createNominalAffinityTest()
-	affinityTrait.PodAffinity = true
+	affinityTrait.PodAffinity = &[]bool{true}[0]
 	affinityTrait.PodAffinityLabels = []string{"!criteria"}
 
 	err := affinityTrait.Apply(environment)
diff --git a/pkg/trait/container.go b/pkg/trait/container.go
index 485b302690..33f51fbbb6 100644
--- a/pkg/trait/container.go
+++ b/pkg/trait/container.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ type containerTrait struct {
 	Name string `property:"name" json:"name,omitempty"`
 
 	// ProbesEnabled enable/disable probes on the container (default `false`)
-	ProbesEnabled bool `property:"probes-enabled" json:"probesEnabled,omitempty"`
+	ProbesEnabled *bool `property:"probes-enabled" json:"probesEnabled,omitempty"`
 	// Path to access on the probe ( default `/health`). Note that this property is not supported
 	// on quarkus runtime and setting it will result in the integration failing to start.
 	ProbePath string `property:"probe-path" json:"probePath,omitempty"`
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func newContainerTrait() Trait {
 		ServicePort:     defaultServicePort,
 		ServicePortName: httpPortName,
 		Name:            defaultContainerName,
-		ProbesEnabled:   false,
+		ProbesEnabled:   &[]bool{false}[0],
 		ProbePath:       defaultProbePath,
 	}
 }
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func (t *containerTrait) Configure(e *Environment) (bool, error) {
 		return false, nil
 	}
 
-	if t.Auto == nil || *t.Auto {
+	if isNilOrTrue(t.Auto) {
 		if t.Expose == nil {
 			e := e.Resources.GetServiceForIntegration(e.Integration) != nil
 			t.Expose = &e
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ func (t *containerTrait) IsPlatformTrait() bool {
 }
 
 func (t *containerTrait) configureDependencies(e *Environment) {
-	if !t.ProbesEnabled {
+	if isNilOrFalse(t.ProbesEnabled) {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ func (t *containerTrait) configureContainer(e *Environment) error {
 	// Deployment
 	//
 	if err := e.Resources.VisitDeploymentE(func(deployment *appsv1.Deployment) error {
-		if t.ProbesEnabled && t.PortName == httpPortName {
+		if isTrue(t.ProbesEnabled) && t.PortName == httpPortName {
 			if err := t.configureProbes(e, &container, t.Port, t.ProbePath); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ func (t *containerTrait) configureContainer(e *Environment) error {
 	// Knative Service
 	//
 	if err := e.Resources.VisitKnativeServiceE(func(service *serving.Service) error {
-		if t.ProbesEnabled && t.PortName == httpPortName {
+		if isTrue(t.ProbesEnabled) && t.PortName == httpPortName {
 			// don't set the port on Knative service as it is not allowed.
 			if err := t.configureProbes(e, &container, 0, t.ProbePath); err != nil {
 				return err
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ func (t *containerTrait) configureContainer(e *Environment) error {
 	// CronJob
 	//
 	if err := e.Resources.VisitCronJobE(func(cron *v1beta1.CronJob) error {
-		if t.ProbesEnabled && t.PortName == httpPortName {
+		if isTrue(t.ProbesEnabled) && t.PortName == httpPortName {
 			if err := t.configureProbes(e, &container, t.Port, t.ProbePath); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/trait/container_probes_test.go b/pkg/trait/container_probes_test.go
index 4d4e5f74d5..c2ef9fdd85 100644
--- a/pkg/trait/container_probes_test.go
+++ b/pkg/trait/container_probes_test.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func newTestProbesEnv(t *testing.T, provider v1.RuntimeProvider) Environment {
 
 func newTestContainerTrait() *containerTrait {
 	tr := newContainerTrait().(*containerTrait)
-	tr.ProbesEnabled = true
+	tr.ProbesEnabled = &[]bool{true}[0]
 
 	return tr
 }
diff --git a/pkg/trait/environment.go b/pkg/trait/environment.go
index 04c89d3a2b..e30107db51 100644
--- a/pkg/trait/environment.go
+++ b/pkg/trait/environment.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import (
 // +camel-k:trait=environment
 type environmentTrait struct {
 	BaseTrait     `property:",squash"`
-	ContainerMeta bool `property:"container-meta" json:"containerMeta,omitempty"`
+	ContainerMeta *bool `property:"container-meta" json:"containerMeta,omitempty"`
 }
 
 const (
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func newEnvironmentTrait() Trait {
 	return &environmentTrait{
 		BaseTrait: NewBaseTrait("environment", 800),
 		// Enable injection of NAMESPACE and POD_NAME environment variables.
-		ContainerMeta: true,
+		ContainerMeta: &[]bool{true}[0],
 	}
 }
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func (t *environmentTrait) Apply(e *Environment) error {
 	envvar.SetVal(&e.EnvVars, envVarMountPathConfigMaps, ConfigMapsMountPath)
 	envvar.SetVal(&e.EnvVars, envVarMountPathSecrets, SecretsMountPath)
 
-	if t.ContainerMeta {
+	if isNilOrTrue(t.ContainerMeta) {
 		envvar.SetValFrom(&e.EnvVars, envVarNamespace, "metadata.namespace")
 		envvar.SetValFrom(&e.EnvVars, envVarPodName, "metadata.name")
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/trait/jvm.go b/pkg/trait/jvm.go
index 83db9fffc3..2c6567fbf1 100644
--- a/pkg/trait/jvm.go
+++ b/pkg/trait/jvm.go
@@ -39,11 +39,11 @@ import (
 type jvmTrait struct {
 	BaseTrait `property:",squash"`
 	// Activates remote debugging, so that a debugger can be attached to the JVM, e.g., using port-forwarding
-	Debug bool `property:"debug" json:"debug,omitempty"`
+	Debug *bool `property:"debug" json:"debug,omitempty"`
 	// Suspends the target JVM immediately before the main class is loaded
-	DebugSuspend bool `property:"debug-suspend" json:"debugSuspend,omitempty"`
+	DebugSuspend *bool `property:"debug-suspend" json:"debugSuspend,omitempty"`
 	// Prints the command used the start the JVM in the container logs (default `true`)
-	PrintCommand bool `property:"print-command" json:"printCommand,omitempty"`
+	PrintCommand *bool `property:"print-command" json:"printCommand,omitempty"`
 	// Transport address at which to listen for the newly launched JVM (default `*:5005`)
 	DebugAddress string `property:"debug-address" json:"debugAddress,omitempty"`
 	// A list of JVM options
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func newJvmTrait() Trait {
 	return &jvmTrait{
 		BaseTrait:    NewBaseTrait("jvm", 2000),
 		DebugAddress: "*:5005",
-		PrintCommand: true,
+		PrintCommand: &[]bool{true}[0],
 	}
 }
 
@@ -115,9 +115,9 @@ func (t *jvmTrait) Apply(e *Environment) error {
 	args := container.Args
 
 	// Remote debugging
-	if t.Debug {
+	if isTrue(t.Debug) {
 		suspend := "n"
-		if t.DebugSuspend {
+		if isTrue(t.DebugSuspend) {
 			suspend = "y"
 		}
 		args = append(args,
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ func (t *jvmTrait) Apply(e *Environment) error {
 	args = append(args, "-cp", strings.Join(items, ":"))
 	args = append(args, e.CamelCatalog.Runtime.ApplicationClass)
 
-	if t.PrintCommand {
+	if isNilOrTrue(t.PrintCommand) {
 		args = append([]string{"exec", "java"}, args...)
 		container.Command = []string{"/bin/sh", "-c"}
 		cmd := strings.Join(args, " ")
diff --git a/pkg/trait/jvm_test.go b/pkg/trait/jvm_test.go
index 2a20bc289d..78a0f5bd48 100644
--- a/pkg/trait/jvm_test.go
+++ b/pkg/trait/jvm_test.go
@@ -145,8 +145,8 @@ func TestApplyJvmTraitWithKNativeResource(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestApplyJvmTraitWithDebugEnabled(t *testing.T) {
 	trait, environment := createNominalJvmTest()
-	trait.Debug = true
-	trait.DebugSuspend = true
+	trait.Debug = &[]bool{true}[0]
+	trait.DebugSuspend = &[]bool{true}[0]
 
 	d := appsv1.Deployment{
 		Spec: appsv1.DeploymentSpec{
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ func createJvmTestWithKitType(kitType string) (*jvmTrait, *Environment) {
 	trait := newJvmTrait().(*jvmTrait)
 	enabled := true
 	trait.Enabled = &enabled
-	trait.PrintCommand = false
+	trait.PrintCommand = &[]bool{false}[0]
 	trait.Ctx = context.TODO()
 	trait.Client = client
 
diff --git a/pkg/trait/prometheus.go b/pkg/trait/prometheus.go
index fc7d91e029..449f02bd59 100644
--- a/pkg/trait/prometheus.go
+++ b/pkg/trait/prometheus.go
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/apache/camel-k/pkg/util"
 )
 
-// The Prometheus trait configures a Prometheus-compatible endpoint. This trait also exposes the integration with 
-//`Service` and `ServiceMonitor` resources, so that the endpoint can be scraped automatically, when using the 
+// The Prometheus trait configures a Prometheus-compatible endpoint. This trait also exposes the integration with
+//`Service` and `ServiceMonitor` resources, so that the endpoint can be scraped automatically, when using the
 // Prometheus Operator.
 //
 // The metrics exposed vary depending on the configured runtime. With the default Quarkus runtime, metrics are
-// exposed using MicroProfile Metrics. While with the Java main runtime, metrics are exposed using the Prometheus 
+// exposed using MicroProfile Metrics. While with the Java main runtime, metrics are exposed using the Prometheus
 // JMX exporter.
 //
 // WARNING: The creation of the `ServiceMonitor` resource requires the https://github.com/coreos/prometheus-operator[Prometheus Operator]
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ type prometheusTrait struct {
 	// The Prometheus endpoint port (default `9779`, or `8080` with Quarkus).
 	Port *int `property:"port" json:"port,omitempty"`
 	// Whether a `ServiceMonitor` resource is created (default `true`).
-	ServiceMonitor bool `property:"service-monitor" json:"serviceMonitor,omitempty"`
+	ServiceMonitor *bool `property:"service-monitor" json:"serviceMonitor,omitempty"`
 	// The `ServiceMonitor` resource labels, applicable when `service-monitor` is `true`.
 	ServiceMonitorLabels []string `property:"service-monitor-labels" json:"serviceMonitorLabels,omitempty"`
 	// To use a custom ConfigMap containing the Prometheus JMX exporter configuration (under the `content` ConfigMap key).
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ const (
 func newPrometheusTrait() Trait {
 	return &prometheusTrait{
 		BaseTrait:      NewBaseTrait("prometheus", 1900),
-		ServiceMonitor: true,
+		ServiceMonitor: &[]bool{true}[0],
 	}
 }
 
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func (t *prometheusTrait) Apply(e *Environment) (err error) {
 		condition.Message = fmt.Sprintf("%s(%s/%d) -> ", service.Name, servicePort.Name, servicePort.Port) + condition.Message
 
 		// Add the ServiceMonitor resource
-		if t.ServiceMonitor {
+		if isNilOrTrue(t.ServiceMonitor) {
 			smt, err := t.getServiceMonitorFor(e)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
diff --git a/pkg/trait/trait_types.go b/pkg/trait/trait_types.go
index 8343fb9734..45dc7a2226 100644
--- a/pkg/trait/trait_types.go
+++ b/pkg/trait/trait_types.go
@@ -188,6 +188,22 @@ type ControllerStrategySelector interface {
 	ControllerStrategySelectorOrder() int
 }
 
+func isTrue(b *bool) bool {
+	return b != nil && *b
+}
+
+func isNilOrTrue(b *bool) bool {
+	return b == nil || *b
+}
+
+func isFalse(b *bool) bool {
+	return b != nil && !*b
+}
+
+func isNilOrFalse(b *bool) bool {
+	return b == nil || !*b
+}
+
 /* Environment */
 
 // A Environment provides the context where the trait is executed