diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java
index a805c12b11..7a1a2e7afb 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ public KubernetesDependentResource<R, P> setInformerEventSource(
 
   @Override
   public void delete(P primary, Context context) {
-    if (addOwnerReference) {
+    if (!addOwnerReference) {
       var resource = getResource(primary);
       resource.ifPresent(r -> client.resource(r).delete());
     }