diff --git a/pkg/reconciler/builder/builder.go b/pkg/reconciler/builder/builder.go
index 169b4db36..115a016ac 100644
--- a/pkg/reconciler/builder/builder.go
+++ b/pkg/reconciler/builder/builder.go
@@ -248,6 +248,10 @@ func (c *Reconciler) reconcileBuilder(ctx context.Context, builder *buildapi.Bui
 		return buildapi.BuilderRecord{}, err
 	}
 
+	if !clusterLifecycle.Status.GetCondition(corev1alpha1.ConditionReady).IsTrue() {
+		return buildapi.BuilderRecord{}, errors.Errorf("Error: clusterlifecycle '%s' is not ready", clusterLifecycle.Name)
+	}
+
 	builderKeychain, err := c.KeychainFactory.KeychainForSecretRef(ctx, registry.SecretRef{
 		ServiceAccount: builder.Spec.ServiceAccount(),
 		Namespace:      builder.Namespace,
diff --git a/pkg/reconciler/clusterbuilder/clusterbuilder.go b/pkg/reconciler/clusterbuilder/clusterbuilder.go
index f9839370f..a7e52c6f2 100644
--- a/pkg/reconciler/clusterbuilder/clusterbuilder.go
+++ b/pkg/reconciler/clusterbuilder/clusterbuilder.go
@@ -231,6 +231,10 @@ func (c *Reconciler) reconcileBuilder(ctx context.Context, builder *buildapi.Clu
 		return buildapi.BuilderRecord{}, err
 	}
 
+	if !clusterLifecycle.Status.GetCondition(corev1alpha1.ConditionReady).IsTrue() {
+		return buildapi.BuilderRecord{}, errors.Errorf("Error: clusterlifecycle '%s' is not ready", clusterLifecycle.Name)
+	}
+
 	builderKeychain, err := c.KeychainFactory.KeychainForSecretRef(ctx, registry.SecretRef{
 		ServiceAccount: builder.Spec.ServiceAccountRef.Name,
 		Namespace:      builder.Spec.ServiceAccountRef.Namespace,