diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/AnnotationControllerConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/AnnotationControllerConfiguration.java
index eb57d2c71a..5ce1bb9560 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/AnnotationControllerConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/AnnotationControllerConfiguration.java
@@ -143,9 +143,9 @@ public static <T> T valueOrDefault(
         return Collections.emptyList();
       }
 
-      Object config = null;
       specs = new ArrayList<>(dependents.length);
       for (Dependent dependent : dependents) {
+        Object config = null;
         final Class<? extends DependentResource> dependentType = dependent.type();
         if (KubernetesDependentResource.class.isAssignableFrom(dependentType)) {
           final var kubeDependent = dependentType.getAnnotation(KubernetesDependent.class);