diff --git a/controller/linodemachine_controller.go b/controller/linodemachine_controller.go
index b77d9c9f9..a960305ca 100644
--- a/controller/linodemachine_controller.go
+++ b/controller/linodemachine_controller.go
@@ -191,7 +191,6 @@ func (r *LinodeMachineReconciler) reconcile(
 	machineScope.LinodeMachine.Status.FailureMessage = util.Pointer("")
 
 	failureReason := cerrs.MachineStatusError("UnknownError")
-	//nolint:dupl // Code duplication is simplicity in this case.
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
 			machineScope.LinodeMachine.Status.FailureReason = util.Pointer(failureReason)
diff --git a/controller/linodemachine_controller_helpers.go b/controller/linodemachine_controller_helpers.go
index 17d68bee9..666858cf5 100644
--- a/controller/linodemachine_controller_helpers.go
+++ b/controller/linodemachine_controller_helpers.go
@@ -188,14 +188,11 @@ func (r *LinodeMachineReconciler) getVPCInterfaceConfig(ctx context.Context, mac
 		return nil, err
 	default:
 		// Place node into the least busy subnet
-		sortedSubnets := make([]linodego.VPCSubnet, len(vpc.Subnets))
-		copy(sortedSubnets, vpc.Subnets)
-
-		sort.Slice(sortedSubnets, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return len(sortedSubnets[i].Linodes) > len(sortedSubnets[j].Linodes)
+		sort.Slice(vpc.Subnets, func(i, j int) bool {
+			return len(vpc.Subnets[i].Linodes) > len(vpc.Subnets[j].Linodes)
 		})
 
-		subnetID = sortedSubnets[0].ID
+		subnetID = vpc.Subnets[0].ID
 	}
 
 	return &linodego.InstanceConfigInterfaceCreateOptions{
diff --git a/controller/linodevpc_controller.go b/controller/linodevpc_controller.go
index e8b1809a0..439b92f7f 100644
--- a/controller/linodevpc_controller.go
+++ b/controller/linodevpc_controller.go
@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@ func (r *LinodeVPCReconciler) reconcile(
 	vpcScope.LinodeVPC.Status.FailureMessage = util.Pointer("")
 
 	failureReason := infrav1.VPCStatusError("UnknownError")
-	//nolint:dupl // Code duplication is simplicity in this case.
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
 			vpcScope.LinodeVPC.Status.FailureReason = util.Pointer(failureReason)