diff --git a/crossplane/templates/gitlab.yml b/crossplane/templates/gitlab.yml
index e3b3dac..754a6b8 100644
--- a/crossplane/templates/gitlab.yml
+++ b/crossplane/templates/gitlab.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ apiVersion: projects.gitlab.crossplane.io/v1alpha1
 kind: Project
 metadata:
   name: example-project
+  annotations:
+    crossplane.io/external-name: example-project
 spec:
   deletionPolicy: Orphan
   forProvider: