diff --git a/pkg/sqlcache/informer/informer.go b/pkg/sqlcache/informer/informer.go
index 926828f7..f3b50611 100644
--- a/pkg/sqlcache/informer/informer.go
+++ b/pkg/sqlcache/informer/informer.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	sqlStore "github.com/rancher/steve/pkg/sqlcache/store"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/unstructured"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/watch"
@@ -30,11 +31,18 @@ type Informer struct {
 }
 
 type WatchOptions struct {
+	Filter WatchFilter
+}
+
+type WatchFilter struct {
+	ID        string
+	Selector  labels.Selector
+	Namespace string
 }
 
 type ByOptionsLister interface {
 	ListByOptions(ctx context.Context, lo *sqltypes.ListOptions, partitions []partition.Partition, namespace string) (*unstructured.UnstructuredList, int, string, error)
-	Watch(ctx context.Context, opts WatchOptions, eventsCh chan<- watch.Event) error
+	Watch(ctx context.Context, options WatchOptions, eventsCh chan<- watch.Event) error
 }
 
 // this is set to a var so that it can be overridden by test code for mocking purposes
diff --git a/pkg/sqlcache/informer/listoption_indexer.go b/pkg/sqlcache/informer/listoption_indexer.go
index 14ce8c51..ba4c4eb1 100644
--- a/pkg/sqlcache/informer/listoption_indexer.go
+++ b/pkg/sqlcache/informer/listoption_indexer.go
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/rancher/steve/pkg/sqlcache/db/transaction"
 	"github.com/rancher/steve/pkg/sqlcache/sqltypes"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/unstructured"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/watch"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/cache"
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ type ListOptionIndexer struct {
 	indexedFields []string
 
 	watchersLock sync.RWMutex
-	watchers     map[*watchKey]chan<- watch.Event
+	watchers     map[*watchKey]*watcher
 
 	addFieldsQuery         string
 	deleteFieldsByKeyQuery string
@@ -111,7 +113,7 @@ func NewListOptionIndexer(ctx context.Context, fields [][]string, s Store, names
 		Indexer:       i,
 		namespaced:    namespaced,
 		indexedFields: indexedFields,
-		watchers:      make(map[*watchKey]chan<- watch.Event),
+		watchers:      make(map[*watchKey]*watcher),
 	}
 	l.RegisterAfterAdd(l.addIndexFields)
 	l.RegisterAfterAdd(l.notifyEventAdded)
@@ -202,7 +204,7 @@ func NewListOptionIndexer(ctx context.Context, fields [][]string, s Store, names
 }
 
 func (l *ListOptionIndexer) Watch(ctx context.Context, opts WatchOptions, eventsCh chan<- watch.Event) error {
-	key := l.addWatcher(eventsCh)
+	key := l.addWatcher(eventsCh, opts.Filter)
 	<-ctx.Done()
 	l.removeWatcher(key)
 	return nil
@@ -212,10 +214,18 @@ type watchKey struct {
 	_ bool // ensure watchKey is NOT zero-sized to get unique pointers
 }
 
-func (l *ListOptionIndexer) addWatcher(eventCh chan<- watch.Event) *watchKey {
+type watcher struct {
+	ch     chan<- watch.Event
+	filter WatchFilter
+}
+
+func (l *ListOptionIndexer) addWatcher(eventCh chan<- watch.Event, filter WatchFilter) *watchKey {
 	key := new(watchKey)
 	l.watchersLock.Lock()
-	l.watchers[key] = eventCh
+	l.watchers[key] = &watcher{
+		ch:     eventCh,
+		filter: filter,
+	}
 	l.watchersLock.Unlock()
 	return key
 }
@@ -229,21 +239,42 @@ func (l *ListOptionIndexer) removeWatcher(key *watchKey) {
 /* Core methods */
 
 func (l *ListOptionIndexer) notifyEventAdded(key string, obj any, tx transaction.Client) error {
-	return l.notifyEvent(watch.Added, obj, tx)
+	return l.notifyEvent(watch.Added, nil, obj, tx)
 }
 
 func (l *ListOptionIndexer) notifyEventModified(key string, obj any, tx transaction.Client) error {
-	return l.notifyEvent(watch.Modified, obj, tx)
+	oldObj, exists, err := l.GetByKey(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("error getting old object: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if !exists {
+		return fmt.Errorf("old object %q should be in store but was not", key)
+	}
+
+	return l.notifyEvent(watch.Modified, oldObj, obj, tx)
 }
 
 func (l *ListOptionIndexer) notifyEventDeleted(key string, obj any, tx transaction.Client) error {
-	return l.notifyEvent(watch.Deleted, obj, tx)
+	oldObj, exists, err := l.GetByKey(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("error getting old object: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if !exists {
+		return fmt.Errorf("old object %q should be in store but was not", key)
+	}
+	return l.notifyEvent(watch.Deleted, oldObj, obj, tx)
 }
 
-func (l *ListOptionIndexer) notifyEvent(eventType watch.EventType, obj any, tx transaction.Client) error {
+func (l *ListOptionIndexer) notifyEvent(eventType watch.EventType, oldObj any, obj any, tx transaction.Client) error {
 	l.watchersLock.RLock()
 	for _, watcher := range l.watchers {
-		watcher <- watch.Event{
+		if !matchWatch(watcher.filter.ID, watcher.filter.Namespace, watcher.filter.Selector, oldObj, obj) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		watcher.ch <- watch.Event{
 			Type:   eventType,
 			Object: obj.(runtime.Object),
 		}
@@ -1044,3 +1075,33 @@ func toUnstructuredList(items []any) *unstructured.UnstructuredList {
 	}
 	return result
 }
+
+func matchWatch(filterName string, filterNamespace string, filterSelector labels.Selector, oldObj any, obj any) bool {
+	matchOld := false
+	if oldObj != nil {
+		matchOld = matchFilter(filterName, filterNamespace, filterSelector, oldObj)
+	}
+	return matchOld || matchFilter(filterName, filterNamespace, filterSelector, obj)
+}
+
+func matchFilter(filterName string, filterNamespace string, filterSelector labels.Selector, obj any) bool {
+	if obj == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	metadata, err := meta.Accessor(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if filterName != "" && filterName != metadata.GetName() {
+		return false
+	}
+	if filterNamespace != "" && filterNamespace != metadata.GetNamespace() {
+		return false
+	}
+	if filterSelector != nil {
+		if !filterSelector.Matches(labels.Set(metadata.GetLabels())) {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
diff --git a/pkg/sqlcache/informer/listoption_indexer_test.go b/pkg/sqlcache/informer/listoption_indexer_test.go
index b88bd916..f087f2aa 100644
--- a/pkg/sqlcache/informer/listoption_indexer_test.go
+++ b/pkg/sqlcache/informer/listoption_indexer_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"go.uber.org/mock/gomock"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/unstructured"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
 	watch "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/watch"
@@ -1929,3 +1930,161 @@ func TestWatchMany(t *testing.T) {
 	err = waitStopWatcher(errCh3)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 }
+
+func TestWatchFilter(t *testing.T) {
+	startWatcher := func(ctx context.Context, loi *ListOptionIndexer, filter WatchFilter) (chan watch.Event, chan error) {
+		errCh := make(chan error, 1)
+		eventsCh := make(chan watch.Event, 100)
+		go func() {
+			watchErr := loi.Watch(ctx, WatchOptions{Filter: filter}, eventsCh)
+			errCh <- watchErr
+		}()
+		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+		return eventsCh, errCh
+	}
+
+	waitStopWatcher := func(errCh chan error) error {
+		select {
+		case <-time.After(time.Second * 5):
+			return fmt.Errorf("not finished in time")
+		case err := <-errCh:
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	receiveEvents := func(eventsCh chan watch.Event) []watch.Event {
+		timer := time.NewTimer(time.Millisecond * 50)
+		var events []watch.Event
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-timer.C:
+				return events
+			case ev := <-eventsCh:
+				events = append(events, ev)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	foo := &unstructured.Unstructured{}
+	foo.SetName("foo")
+	foo.SetNamespace("foo")
+	foo.SetLabels(map[string]string{
+		"app": "foo",
+	})
+
+	fooUpdated := foo.DeepCopy()
+	fooUpdated.SetLabels(map[string]string{
+		"app": "changed",
+	})
+
+	bar := &unstructured.Unstructured{}
+	bar.SetName("bar")
+	bar.SetNamespace("bar")
+	bar.SetLabels(map[string]string{
+		"app": "bar",
+	})
+
+	appSelector, err := labels.Parse("app=foo")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name           string
+		filter         WatchFilter
+		setupStore     func(store cache.Store) error
+		expectedEvents []watch.Event
+	}{
+		{
+			name:   "namespace filter",
+			filter: WatchFilter{Namespace: "foo"},
+			setupStore: func(store cache.Store) error {
+				err := store.Add(foo)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				err = store.Add(bar)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				return nil
+			},
+			expectedEvents: []watch.Event{{Type: watch.Added, Object: foo}},
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "selector filter",
+			filter: WatchFilter{Selector: appSelector},
+			setupStore: func(store cache.Store) error {
+				err := store.Add(foo)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				err = store.Add(bar)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				err = store.Update(fooUpdated)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				return nil
+			},
+			expectedEvents: []watch.Event{
+				{Type: watch.Added, Object: foo},
+				{Type: watch.Modified, Object: fooUpdated},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "id filter",
+			filter: WatchFilter{ID: "foo"},
+			setupStore: func(store cache.Store) error {
+				err := store.Add(foo)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				err = store.Add(bar)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				err = store.Update(fooUpdated)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				err = store.Update(foo)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				return nil
+			},
+			expectedEvents: []watch.Event{
+				{Type: watch.Added, Object: foo},
+				{Type: watch.Modified, Object: fooUpdated},
+				{Type: watch.Modified, Object: foo},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+
+			loi, err := makeListOptionIndexer(ctx, [][]string{{"metadata", "somefield"}})
+			assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+			wCh, errCh := startWatcher(ctx, loi, WatchFilter{
+				Namespace: "foo",
+			})
+
+			if test.setupStore != nil {
+				err = test.setupStore(loi)
+				assert.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+
+			events := receiveEvents(wCh)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.expectedEvents, events)
+
+			cancel()
+			err = waitStopWatcher(errCh)
+			assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		})
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/pkg/stores/sqlproxy/proxy_store.go b/pkg/stores/sqlproxy/proxy_store.go
index dbe8c15b..c2d4221a 100644
--- a/pkg/stores/sqlproxy/proxy_store.go
+++ b/pkg/stores/sqlproxy/proxy_store.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/unstructured"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema"
 	apitypes "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/rancher/steve/pkg/sqlcache/partition"
 	"github.com/rancher/steve/pkg/sqlcache/sqltypes"
 	"github.com/rancher/wrangler/v3/pkg/data"
+	"github.com/rancher/wrangler/v3/pkg/kv"
 	"github.com/rancher/wrangler/v3/pkg/schemas"
 	"github.com/rancher/wrangler/v3/pkg/schemas/validation"
 	"github.com/rancher/wrangler/v3/pkg/summary"
@@ -550,10 +552,30 @@ func (s *Store) watch(apiOp *types.APIRequest, schema *types.APISchema, w types.
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	result := make(chan watch.Event, 1000)
+	var selector labels.Selector
+	if w.Selector != "" {
+		selector, err = labels.Parse(w.Selector)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid selector: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	result := make(chan watch.Event)
 	go func() {
 		ctx := apiOp.Context()
-		err := inf.ByOptionsLister.Watch(ctx, informer.WatchOptions{}, result)
+		idNamespace, _ := kv.RSplit(w.ID, "/")
+		if idNamespace == "" {
+			idNamespace = apiOp.Namespace
+		}
+
+		opts := informer.WatchOptions{
+			Filter: informer.WatchFilter{
+				ID:        w.ID,
+				Namespace: idNamespace,
+				Selector:  selector,
+			},
+		}
+		err := inf.ByOptionsLister.Watch(ctx, opts, result)
 		if err != nil {
 			logrus.Error(err)
 		}