diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/UpdateControl.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/UpdateControl.java
index eb44735a89..43da799688 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/UpdateControl.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/UpdateControl.java
@@ -7,15 +7,17 @@ public class UpdateControl<T extends HasMetadata> extends BaseControl<UpdateCont
   private final T resource;
   private final boolean updateStatus;
   private final boolean updateResource;
+  private final boolean patch;
 
   private UpdateControl(
-      T resource, boolean updateStatus, boolean updateResource) {
+      T resource, boolean updateStatus, boolean updateResource, boolean patch) {
     if ((updateResource || updateStatus) && resource == null) {
       throw new IllegalArgumentException("CustomResource cannot be null in case of update");
     }
     this.resource = resource;
     this.updateStatus = updateStatus;
     this.updateResource = updateResource;
+    this.patch = patch;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -28,11 +30,19 @@ private UpdateControl(
    * @return initialized update control
    */
   public static <T extends HasMetadata> UpdateControl<T> updateResource(T customResource) {
-    return new UpdateControl<>(customResource, false, true);
+    return new UpdateControl<>(customResource, false, true, false);
   }
 
   public static <T extends HasMetadata> UpdateControl<T> updateStatus(T customResource) {
-    return new UpdateControl<>(customResource, true, false);
+    return new UpdateControl<>(customResource, true, false, false);
+  }
+
+  public static <T extends HasMetadata> UpdateControl<T> patchResource(T customResource) {
+    return new UpdateControl<>(customResource, false, true, true);
+  }
+
+  public static <T extends HasMetadata> UpdateControl<T> patchStatus(T customResource) {
+    return new UpdateControl<>(customResource, true, false, true);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -45,11 +55,17 @@ public static <T extends HasMetadata> UpdateControl<T> updateStatus(T customReso
    */
   public static <T extends HasMetadata> UpdateControl<T> updateResourceAndStatus(
       T customResource) {
-    return new UpdateControl<>(customResource, true, true);
+    return new UpdateControl<>(customResource, true, true, false);
+  }
+
+  public static <T extends HasMetadata> UpdateControl<T> patchResourceAndStatus(
+      T customResource) {
+    return new UpdateControl<>(customResource, true, true, true);
   }
 
+
   public static <T extends HasMetadata> UpdateControl<T> noUpdate() {
-    return new UpdateControl<>(null, false, false);
+    return new UpdateControl<>(null, false, false, false);
   }
 
   public T getResource() {
@@ -64,6 +80,10 @@ public boolean isUpdateResource() {
     return updateResource;
   }
 
+  public boolean isPatch() {
+    return patch;
+  }
+
   public boolean isNoUpdate() {
     return !updateResource && !updateStatus;
   }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/ReconciliationDispatcher.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/ReconciliationDispatcher.java
index 2a0f0997f0..ffe4018ccd 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/ReconciliationDispatcher.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/ReconciliationDispatcher.java
@@ -133,22 +133,28 @@ private PostExecutionControl<R> reconcileExecution(ExecutionScope<R> executionSc
     UpdateControl<R> updateControl = controller.reconcile(resourceForExecution, context);
     R updatedCustomResource = null;
     if (updateControl.isUpdateResourceAndStatus()) {
-      updatedCustomResource = updateCustomResource(updateControl.getResource());
+      updatedCustomResource =
+          updateCustomResource(updateControl.getResource(), updateControl.isPatch());
       updateControl
           .getResource()
           .getMetadata()
           .setResourceVersion(updatedCustomResource.getMetadata().getResourceVersion());
-      updatedCustomResource = updateStatusGenerationAware(updateControl.getResource());
+      updatedCustomResource =
+          updateStatusGenerationAware(updateControl.getResource(), updateControl.isPatch());
     } else if (updateControl.isUpdateStatus()) {
-      updatedCustomResource = updateStatusGenerationAware(updateControl.getResource());
+      updatedCustomResource =
+          updateStatusGenerationAware(updateControl.getResource(), updateControl.isPatch());
     } else if (updateControl.isUpdateResource()) {
-      updatedCustomResource = updateCustomResource(updateControl.getResource());
+      updatedCustomResource =
+          updateCustomResource(updateControl.getResource(), updateControl.isPatch());
       if (shouldUpdateObservedGenerationAutomatically(updatedCustomResource)) {
-        updatedCustomResource = updateStatusGenerationAware(originalResource);
+        updatedCustomResource =
+            updateStatusGenerationAware(originalResource, updateControl.isPatch());
       }
     } else if (updateControl.isNoUpdate()
         && shouldUpdateObservedGenerationAutomatically(resourceForExecution)) {
-      updatedCustomResource = updateStatusGenerationAware(originalResource);
+      updatedCustomResource =
+          updateStatusGenerationAware(originalResource, updateControl.isPatch());
     }
     return createPostExecutionControl(updatedCustomResource, updateControl);
   }
@@ -197,9 +203,13 @@ private boolean isErrorStatusHandlerPresent() {
     return controller.getReconciler() instanceof ErrorStatusHandler;
   }
 
-  private R updateStatusGenerationAware(R resource) {
+  private R updateStatusGenerationAware(R resource, boolean patch) {
     updateStatusObservedGenerationIfRequired(resource);
-    return customResourceFacade.updateStatus(resource);
+    if (patch) {
+      return customResourceFacade.patchStatus(resource);
+    } else {
+      return customResourceFacade.updateStatus(resource);
+    }
   }
 
   private boolean shouldUpdateObservedGenerationAutomatically(R resource) {
@@ -281,13 +291,17 @@ private void updateCustomResourceWithFinalizer(R resource) {
     log.debug(
         "Adding finalizer for resource: {} version: {}", getUID(resource), getVersion(resource));
     resource.addFinalizer(configuration().getFinalizerName());
-    replace(resource);
+    customResourceFacade.replaceResourceWithLock(resource);
   }
 
-  private R updateCustomResource(R resource) {
+  private R updateCustomResource(R resource, boolean patch) {
     log.debug("Updating resource: {} with version: {}", getUID(resource), getVersion(resource));
     log.trace("Resource before update: {}", resource);
-    return replace(resource);
+    if (patch) {
+      return customResourceFacade.patchResource(resource);
+    } else {
+      return customResourceFacade.replaceResourceWithLock(resource);
+    }
   }
 
   private R removeFinalizer(R resource) {
@@ -296,16 +310,9 @@ private R removeFinalizer(R resource) {
         getUID(resource),
         getVersion(resource));
     resource.removeFinalizer(configuration().getFinalizerName());
-    return customResourceFacade.replaceWithLock(resource);
+    return customResourceFacade.replaceResourceWithLock(resource);
   }
 
-  private R replace(R resource) {
-    log.debug(
-        "Trying to replace resource {}, version: {}",
-        getName(resource),
-        resource.getMetadata().getResourceVersion());
-    return customResourceFacade.replaceWithLock(resource);
-  }
 
   ControllerConfiguration<R> configuration() {
     return controller.getConfiguration();
@@ -321,6 +328,25 @@ public CustomResourceFacade(
       this.resourceOperation = resourceOperation;
     }
 
+    public R replaceResourceWithLock(R resource) {
+      log.debug(
+          "Trying to replace resource {}, version: {}",
+          getName(resource),
+          resource.getMetadata().getResourceVersion());
+      return resourceOperation
+          .inNamespace(resource.getMetadata().getNamespace())
+          .withName(getName(resource))
+          .lockResourceVersion(resource.getMetadata().getResourceVersion())
+          .replace(resource);
+    }
+
+    public R patchResource(R resource) {
+      return resourceOperation
+          .inNamespace(resource.getMetadata().getNamespace())
+          .withName(getName(resource))
+          .patch(resource);
+    }
+
     public R updateStatus(R resource) {
       log.trace("Updating status for resource: {}", resource);
       return resourceOperation
@@ -329,12 +355,12 @@ public R updateStatus(R resource) {
           .replaceStatus(resource);
     }
 
-    public R replaceWithLock(R resource) {
+    public R patchStatus(R resource) {
+      log.trace("Updating status for resource: {}", resource);
       return resourceOperation
           .inNamespace(resource.getMetadata().getNamespace())
           .withName(getName(resource))
-          .lockResourceVersion(resource.getMetadata().getResourceVersion())
-          .replace(resource);
+          .patchStatus(resource);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/ReconciliationDispatcherTest.java b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/ReconciliationDispatcherTest.java
index ccf218d3d0..d1b6883075 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/ReconciliationDispatcherTest.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/ReconciliationDispatcherTest.java
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ void addFinalizerOnNewResource() throws Exception {
     verify(reconciler, never())
         .reconcile(ArgumentMatchers.eq(testCustomResource), any());
     verify(customResourceFacade, times(1))
-        .replaceWithLock(
+        .replaceResourceWithLock(
             argThat(testCustomResource -> testCustomResource.hasFinalizer(DEFAULT_FINALIZER)));
     assertThat(testCustomResource.hasFinalizer(DEFAULT_FINALIZER)).isTrue();
   }
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ void updatesOnlyStatusSubResourceIfFinalizerSet() throws Exception {
     reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
 
     verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).updateStatus(testCustomResource);
-    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).replaceWithLock(any());
+    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).replaceResourceWithLock(any());
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -150,14 +150,42 @@ void updatesBothResourceAndStatusIfFinalizerSet() throws Exception {
     testCustomResource.addFinalizer(DEFAULT_FINALIZER);
 
     reconciler.reconcile = (r, c) -> UpdateControl.updateResourceAndStatus(testCustomResource);
-    when(customResourceFacade.replaceWithLock(testCustomResource)).thenReturn(testCustomResource);
+    when(customResourceFacade.replaceResourceWithLock(testCustomResource))
+        .thenReturn(testCustomResource);
 
     reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
 
-    verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).replaceWithLock(testCustomResource);
+    verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).replaceResourceWithLock(testCustomResource);
     verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).updateStatus(testCustomResource);
   }
 
+
+  @Test
+  void patchesResource() {
+    testCustomResource.addFinalizer(DEFAULT_FINALIZER);
+
+    reconciler.reconcile = (r, c) -> UpdateControl.patchResource(testCustomResource);
+
+    reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
+
+    verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).patchResource(testCustomResource);
+    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).updateStatus(any());
+    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).replaceResourceWithLock(any());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void patchesStatus() {
+    testCustomResource.addFinalizer(DEFAULT_FINALIZER);
+
+    reconciler.reconcile = (r, c) -> UpdateControl.patchStatus(testCustomResource);
+
+    reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
+
+    verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).patchStatus(testCustomResource);
+    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).updateStatus(any());
+    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).replaceResourceWithLock(any());
+  }
+
   @Test
   void callCreateOrUpdateOnModifiedResourceIfFinalizerSet() throws Exception {
     testCustomResource.addFinalizer(DEFAULT_FINALIZER);
@@ -216,7 +244,7 @@ void removesDefaultFinalizerOnDeleteIfSet() {
     reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
 
     assertEquals(0, testCustomResource.getMetadata().getFinalizers().size());
-    verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).replaceWithLock(any());
+    verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).replaceResourceWithLock(any());
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -229,7 +257,7 @@ void doesNotRemovesTheSetFinalizerIfTheDeleteNotMethodInstructsIt() {
     reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
 
     assertEquals(1, testCustomResource.getMetadata().getFinalizers().size());
-    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).replaceWithLock(any());
+    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).replaceResourceWithLock(any());
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -239,7 +267,7 @@ void doesNotUpdateTheResourceIfNoUpdateUpdateControlIfFinalizerSet() throws Exce
     reconciler.reconcile = (r, c) -> UpdateControl.noUpdate();
 
     reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
-    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).replaceWithLock(any());
+    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).replaceResourceWithLock(any());
     verify(customResourceFacade, never()).updateStatus(testCustomResource);
   }
 
@@ -252,7 +280,7 @@ void addsFinalizerIfNotMarkedForDeletionAndEmptyCustomResourceReturned() throws
     reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
 
     assertEquals(1, testCustomResource.getMetadata().getFinalizers().size());
-    verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).replaceWithLock(any());
+    verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).replaceResourceWithLock(any());
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -262,7 +290,7 @@ void doesNotCallDeleteIfMarkedForDeletionButNotOurFinalizer() {
 
     reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
 
-    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).replaceWithLock(any());
+    verify(customResourceFacade, never()).replaceResourceWithLock(any());
     verify(reconciler, never()).cleanup(eq(testCustomResource), any());
   }
 
@@ -388,7 +416,7 @@ void updateObservedGenerationOnCustomResourceUpdate() throws Exception {
     when(config.isGenerationAware()).thenReturn(true);
     when(reconciler.reconcile(any(), any()))
         .thenReturn(UpdateControl.updateResource(observedGenResource));
-    when(facade.replaceWithLock(any())).thenReturn(observedGenResource);
+    when(facade.replaceResourceWithLock(any())).thenReturn(observedGenResource);
     when(facade.updateStatus(observedGenResource)).thenReturn(observedGenResource);
     var dispatcher = init(observedGenResource, reconciler, config, facade, true);
 
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/ControllerExecutionIT.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/ControllerExecutionIT.java
index 3688b55d3c..67bc908482 100644
--- a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/ControllerExecutionIT.java
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/ControllerExecutionIT.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import static org.awaitility.Awaitility.await;
 
 class ControllerExecutionIT {
+
   @RegisterExtension
   OperatorExtension operator =
       OperatorExtension.builder().withReconciler(new TestReconciler(true)).build();
@@ -32,6 +33,17 @@ void configMapGetsCreatedForTestCustomResource() {
     assertThat(TestUtils.getNumberOfExecutions(operator)).isEqualTo(2);
   }
 
+  @Test
+  void patchesStatusForTestCustomResource() {
+    operator.getControllerOfType(TestReconciler.class).setPatchStatus(true);
+    operator.getControllerOfType(TestReconciler.class).setUpdateStatus(true);
+
+    TestCustomResource resource = TestUtils.testCustomResource();
+    operator.create(TestCustomResource.class, resource);
+
+    awaitStatusUpdated();
+  }
+
   @Test
   void eventIsSkippedChangedOnMetadataOnlyUpdate() {
     operator.getControllerOfType(TestReconciler.class).setUpdateStatus(false);
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/simple/TestReconciler.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/simple/TestReconciler.java
index 78db3b16f7..ebf809799e 100644
--- a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/simple/TestReconciler.java
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/simple/TestReconciler.java
@@ -31,10 +31,21 @@ public class TestReconciler
   private final AtomicInteger numberOfExecutions = new AtomicInteger(0);
   private final AtomicInteger numberOfCleanupExecutions = new AtomicInteger(0);
   private KubernetesClient kubernetesClient;
-  private boolean updateStatus;
+  private volatile boolean updateStatus;
+  private volatile boolean patchStatus;
 
   public TestReconciler(boolean updateStatus) {
+    this(updateStatus, false);
+  }
+
+  public TestReconciler(boolean updateStatus, boolean patchStatus) {
     this.updateStatus = updateStatus;
+    this.patchStatus = patchStatus;
+  }
+
+  public TestReconciler setPatchStatus(boolean patchStatus) {
+    this.patchStatus = patchStatus;
+    return this;
   }
 
   public void setUpdateStatus(boolean updateStatus) {
@@ -122,7 +133,11 @@ public UpdateControl<TestCustomResource> reconcile(
       }
       resource.getStatus().setConfigMapStatus("ConfigMap Ready");
     }
-    return UpdateControl.updateStatus(resource);
+    if (patchStatus) {
+      return UpdateControl.patchStatus(resource);
+    } else {
+      return UpdateControl.updateStatus(resource);
+    }
   }
 
   private Map<String, String> configMapData(TestCustomResource resource) {