diff --git a/internal/controller/system_helm_reconciler.go b/internal/controller/system_helm_reconciler.go
index 83117c42..0a92aa78 100644
--- a/internal/controller/system_helm_reconciler.go
+++ b/internal/controller/system_helm_reconciler.go
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ func (r *CozystackConfigReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, _ ctrl.Reques
 		if !isSystemApp && !isTenantRoot {
 			continue
 		}
+		patchTarget := hr.DeepCopy()
 
 		if hr.Annotations == nil {
 			hr.Annotations = map[string]string{}
@@ -62,13 +63,12 @@ func (r *CozystackConfigReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, _ ctrl.Reques
 		if hr.Annotations[digestAnnotation] == digest {
 			continue
 		}
+		patchTarget.Annotations[digestAnnotation] = digest
+		patchTarget.Annotations[forceReconcileKey] = now
+		patchTarget.Annotations[requestedAt] = now
 
 		patch := client.MergeFrom(hr.DeepCopy())
-		hr.Annotations[digestAnnotation] = digest
-		hr.Annotations[forceReconcileKey] = now
-		hr.Annotations[requestedAt] = now
-
-		if err := r.Patch(ctx, &hr, patch); err != nil {
+		if err := r.Patch(ctx, patchTarget, patch); err != nil {
 			log.Error(err, "failed to patch HelmRelease", "name", hr.Name, "namespace", hr.Namespace)
 			continue
 		}