diff --git a/controllers/kustomization_controller.go b/controllers/kustomization_controller.go
index 29d5a445..bf0aef5a 100644
--- a/controllers/kustomization_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/kustomization_controller.go
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func (r *KustomizationReconciler) Reconcile(req ctrl.Request) (ctrl.Result, erro
 	}
 
 	// update status
-	if err := r.Status().Update(ctx, &reconciledKustomization); err != nil {
+	if err := r.updateStatus(ctx, req, reconciledKustomization.Status); err != nil {
 		log.Error(err, "unable to update status after reconciliation")
 		return ctrl.Result{Requeue: true}, err
 	}
@@ -1033,6 +1033,16 @@ func (r *KustomizationReconciler) newKustomizationClient(kustomization kustomize
 	return client, statusPoller, err
 }
 
+func (r *KustomizationReconciler) updateStatus(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request, newStatus kustomizev1.KustomizationStatus) error {
+	var kustomization kustomizev1.Kustomization
+	if err := r.Get(ctx, req.NamespacedName, &kustomization); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	kustomization.Status = newStatus
+	return r.Status().Update(ctx, &kustomization)
+}
+
 func containsString(slice []string, s string) bool {
 	for _, item := range slice {
 		if item == s {