diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/PostExecutionControl.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/PostExecutionControl.java
index 99bfc824f7..820254f9e3 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/PostExecutionControl.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/PostExecutionControl.java
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ private PostExecutionControl(
     this.runtimeException = runtimeException;
   }
 
-  public static <R extends HasMetadata> PostExecutionControl<R> onlyFinalizerAdded() {
-    return new PostExecutionControl<>(true, null, false, null);
+  public static <R extends HasMetadata> PostExecutionControl<R> onlyFinalizerAdded(
+      R updatedCustomResource) {
+    return new PostExecutionControl<>(true, updatedCustomResource, false, null);
   }
 
   public static <R extends HasMetadata> PostExecutionControl<R> defaultDispatch() {
@@ -46,18 +47,10 @@ public static <R extends HasMetadata> PostExecutionControl<R> exceptionDuringExe
     return new PostExecutionControl<>(false, null, false, exception);
   }
 
-  public boolean isOnlyFinalizerHandled() {
-    return onlyFinalizerHandled;
-  }
-
   public Optional<R> getUpdatedCustomResource() {
     return Optional.ofNullable(updatedCustomResource);
   }
 
-  public boolean customResourceUpdatedDuringExecution() {
-    return updatedCustomResource != null;
-  }
-
   public boolean exceptionDuringExecution() {
     return runtimeException != null;
   }
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 600ebee221..0555a17621 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
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ private PostExecutionControl<R> handleReconcile(
        * finalizer add. This will make sure that the resources are not created before there is a
        * finalizer.
        */
-      updateCustomResourceWithFinalizer(originalResource);
-      return PostExecutionControl.onlyFinalizerAdded();
+      var updatedResource = updateCustomResourceWithFinalizer(originalResource);
+      return PostExecutionControl.onlyFinalizerAdded(updatedResource);
     } else {
       var resourceForExecution =
           cloneResource(originalResource);
@@ -295,11 +295,11 @@ private PostExecutionControl<R> handleCleanup(R resource, Context<R> context) {
     return postExecutionControl;
   }
 
-  private void updateCustomResourceWithFinalizer(R resource) {
+  private R updateCustomResourceWithFinalizer(R resource) {
     log.debug(
         "Adding finalizer for resource: {} version: {}", getUID(resource), getVersion(resource));
     resource.addFinalizer(configuration().getFinalizerName());
-    customResourceFacade.replaceResourceWithLock(resource);
+    return customResourceFacade.replaceResourceWithLock(resource);
   }
 
   private R updateCustomResource(R 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 db2b52c295..fabf36b529 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
@@ -261,13 +261,16 @@ void doesNotUpdateTheResourceIfNoUpdateUpdateControlIfFinalizerSet() {
   @Test
   void addsFinalizerIfNotMarkedForDeletionAndEmptyCustomResourceReturned() {
     removeFinalizers(testCustomResource);
-
     reconciler.reconcile = (r, c) -> UpdateControl.noUpdate();
+    when(customResourceFacade.replaceResourceWithLock(any())).thenReturn(testCustomResource);
 
-    reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
+    var postExecControl =
+        reconciliationDispatcher.handleExecution(executionScopeWithCREvent(testCustomResource));
 
     assertEquals(1, testCustomResource.getMetadata().getFinalizers().size());
     verify(customResourceFacade, times(1)).replaceResourceWithLock(any());
+    assertThat(postExecControl.updateIsStatusPatch()).isFalse();
+    assertThat(postExecControl.getUpdatedCustomResource()).isPresent();
   }
 
   @Test