diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfiguration.java
index d4739f8267..7e44a45de9 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfiguration.java
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ default ResourceEventFilter<R> getEventFilter() {
     return ResourceEventFilters.passthrough();
   }
 
-  default List<DependentResource> getDependentResources() {
+  default List<DependentResourceConfiguration> getDependentResources() {
     return Collections.emptyList();
   }
 
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DefaultControllerConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DefaultControllerConfiguration.java
index 0a3c68c70b..25ff5a5315 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DefaultControllerConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DefaultControllerConfiguration.java
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ public class DefaultControllerConfiguration<R extends HasMetadata>
   private final boolean generationAware;
   private final RetryConfiguration retryConfiguration;
   private final ResourceEventFilter<R> resourceEventFilter;
-  private final List<DependentResource> dependents;
+  private final List<DependentResourceConfiguration> dependents;
 
   // NOSONAR constructor is meant to provide all information
   public DefaultControllerConfiguration(
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public DefaultControllerConfiguration(
       ResourceEventFilter<R> resourceEventFilter,
       Class<R> resourceClass,
       ConfigurationService service,
-      List<DependentResource> dependents) {
+      List<DependentResourceConfiguration> dependents) {
     super(labelSelector, resourceClass, namespaces);
     this.associatedControllerClassName = associatedControllerClassName;
     this.name = name;
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ public ResourceEventFilter<R> getEventFilter() {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public List<DependentResource> getDependentResources() {
+  public List<DependentResourceConfiguration> getDependentResources() {
     return dependents;
   }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DefaultResourceConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DefaultResourceConfiguration.java
index 7b80416433..d7b5f76815 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DefaultResourceConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DefaultResourceConfiguration.java
@@ -23,8 +23,7 @@ public DefaultResourceConfiguration(String labelSelector, Class<R> resourceClass
   public DefaultResourceConfiguration(String labelSelector, Class<R> resourceClass,
       Set<String> namespaces) {
     this.labelSelector = labelSelector;
-    this.resourceClass = resourceClass == null ? ResourceConfiguration.super.getResourceClass()
-        : resourceClass;
+    this.resourceClass = resourceClass;
     this.namespaces = namespaces != null ? namespaces : Collections.emptySet();
     this.watchAllNamespaces = this.namespaces.isEmpty();
   }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DependentResourceConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DependentResourceConfiguration.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..15911e0418
--- /dev/null
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/DependentResourceConfiguration.java
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config;
+
+import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
+
+public interface DependentResourceConfiguration<R, P extends HasMetadata> {
+
+  Class<? extends DependentResource<R, P>> getDependentResourceClass();
+
+  Class<R> getResourceClass();
+}
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceController.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceController.java
index 043aec2f53..21cd16a32f 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceController.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceController.java
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DependentResource;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DependentResourceConfiguration;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceContext;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.EventSource;
 
-public class DependentResourceController<R, P extends HasMetadata>
+public class DependentResourceController<R, P extends HasMetadata, C extends DependentResourceConfiguration<R, P>>
     implements DependentResource<R, P>, Builder<R, P>, Updater<R, P>, Persister<R, P>,
     Cleaner<R, P> {
 
@@ -15,14 +16,16 @@ public class DependentResourceController<R, P extends HasMetadata>
   private final Cleaner<R, P> cleaner;
   private final Persister<R, P> persister;
   private final DependentResource<R, P> delegate;
+  private final C configuration;
 
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-  public DependentResourceController(DependentResource<R, P> delegate) {
+  public DependentResourceController(DependentResource<R, P> delegate, C configuration) {
     this.delegate = delegate;
     builder = (delegate instanceof Builder) ? (Builder<R, P>) delegate : null;
     updater = (delegate instanceof Updater) ? (Updater<R, P>) delegate : null;
     cleaner = (delegate instanceof Cleaner) ? (Cleaner<R, P>) delegate : null;
     persister = initPersister(delegate);
+    this.configuration = configuration;
   }
 
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -84,4 +87,8 @@ public void createOrReplace(R dependentResource, Context context) {
   public R getFor(P primary, Context context) {
     return persister.getFor(primary, context);
   }
+
+  public C getConfiguration() {
+    return configuration;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceControllerFactory.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceControllerFactory.java
index f814cd7a1a..dd11a7a706 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceControllerFactory.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceControllerFactory.java
@@ -1,14 +1,26 @@
 package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent;
 
+import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
+
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DependentResource;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DependentResourceConfiguration;
 
 public interface DependentResourceControllerFactory<P extends HasMetadata> {
 
-  default <R> DependentResourceController<R, P> from(DependentResource<R, P> dependent) {
-    // todo: this needs to be cleaned-up / redesigned
-    return dependent instanceof DependentResourceController
-        ? (DependentResourceController<R, P>) dependent
-        : new DependentResourceController<>(dependent);
+  default <T extends DependentResourceController<R, P, C>, R, C extends DependentResourceConfiguration<R, P>> T from(
+      C config) {
+    try {
+      final var dependentResource = config.getDependentResourceClass().getConstructor()
+          .newInstance();
+      if (config instanceof KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration) {
+        return (T) new KubernetesDependentResourceController(dependentResource,
+            (KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration) config);
+      } else {
+        return (T) new DependentResourceController(dependentResource, config);
+      }
+    } catch (NoSuchMethodException | InvocationTargetException | InstantiationException
+        | IllegalAccessException e) {
+      throw new IllegalArgumentException(e);
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration.java
index dad9411d2d..23d37881b4 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration.java
@@ -4,35 +4,64 @@
 
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.ConfigurationService;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DependentResource;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DependentResourceConfiguration;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.PrimaryResourcesRetriever;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.informer.InformerConfiguration;
 
-public class KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata>
-    extends InformerConfiguration<R, P> {
+public interface KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata>
+    extends InformerConfiguration<R, P>, DependentResourceConfiguration<R, P> {
 
-  private final boolean owned;
+  class DefaultKubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata>
+      extends DefaultInformerConfiguration<R, P>
+      implements KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<R, P> {
 
-  protected KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration(
-      ConfigurationService service,
-      String labelSelector, Class<R> resourceClass,
-      PrimaryResourcesRetriever<R> secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet,
-      AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier<P> associatedWith,
-      boolean skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange, Set<String> namespaces, boolean owned) {
-    super(service, labelSelector, resourceClass, secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet, associatedWith,
-        skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange, namespaces);
-    this.owned = owned;
+    private final boolean owned;
+    private final Class<DependentResource<R, P>> dependentResourceClass;
+
+    protected DefaultKubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration(
+        ConfigurationService service,
+        String labelSelector, Class<R> resourceClass,
+        PrimaryResourcesRetriever<R> secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet,
+        AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier<P> associatedWith,
+        boolean skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange, Set<String> namespaces, boolean owned,
+        Class<DependentResource<R, P>> dependentResourceClass) {
+      super(service, labelSelector, resourceClass, secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet, associatedWith,
+          skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange, namespaces);
+      this.owned = owned;
+      this.dependentResourceClass = dependentResourceClass;
+    }
+
+    public boolean isOwned() {
+      return owned;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Class<? extends DependentResource<R, P>> getDependentResourceClass() {
+      return dependentResourceClass;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Class<R> getResourceClass() {
+      return super.getResourceClass();
+    }
   }
 
-  public static <R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata> KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<R, P> from(
-      InformerConfiguration<R, P> cfg, boolean owned) {
-    return new KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<>(cfg.getConfigurationService(),
+  static <R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata> KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<R, P> from(
+      InformerConfiguration<R, P> cfg, boolean owned,
+      Class<? extends DependentResource> dependentResourceClass) {
+    return new DefaultKubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<R, P>(cfg.getConfigurationService(),
         cfg.getLabelSelector(), cfg.getResourceClass(), cfg.getPrimaryResourcesRetriever(),
         cfg.getAssociatedResourceIdentifier(), cfg.isSkipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange(),
-        cfg.getNamespaces(), owned);
+        cfg.getNamespaces(), owned,
+        (Class<DependentResource<R, P>>) dependentResourceClass);
   }
 
-  public boolean isOwned() {
-    return owned;
+  boolean isOwned();
+
+  @Override
+  default Class<R> getResourceClass() {
+    return InformerConfiguration.super.getResourceClass();
   }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/KubernetesDependentResourceController.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/KubernetesDependentResourceController.java
index 015b60f4bb..172e9cb0d9 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/KubernetesDependentResourceController.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/KubernetesDependentResourceController.java
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.informer.InformerEventSource;
 
 public class KubernetesDependentResourceController<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata>
-    extends DependentResourceController<R, P> {
+    extends DependentResourceController<R, P, KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<R, P>> {
+
   private final KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<R, P> configuration;
   private KubernetesClient client;
   private InformerEventSource<R, P> informer;
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ public class KubernetesDependentResourceController<R extends HasMetadata, P exte
 
   public KubernetesDependentResourceController(DependentResource<R, P> delegate,
       KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration<R, P> configuration) {
-    super(delegate);
+    super(delegate, configuration);
     // todo: check if we can validate that types actually match properly
     final var associatedPrimaries =
         (delegate instanceof PrimaryResourcesRetriever)
@@ -36,7 +37,8 @@ public KubernetesDependentResourceController(DependentResource<R, P> delegate,
         .withAssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier(associatedSecondary)
         .build();
     this.configuration =
-        KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration.from(augmented, configuration.isOwned());
+        KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration.from(augmented, configuration.isOwned(),
+            configuration.getDependentResourceClass());
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -69,6 +71,6 @@ public R getFor(P primary, Context context) {
   }
 
   public boolean owned() {
-    return configuration.isOwned();
+    return getConfiguration().isOwned();
   }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/DependentResourceManager.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/DependentResourceManager.java
index 30e92e3d63..911805b396 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/DependentResourceManager.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/DependentResourceManager.java
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.ControllerConfiguration;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DependentResource;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DependentResourceConfiguration;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ContextInitializer;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.DeleteControl;
@@ -42,13 +42,14 @@ public DependentResourceManager(Controller<R> controller) {
 
   @Override
   public List<EventSource> prepareEventSources(EventSourceContext<R> context) {
-    final List<DependentResource> configured = configuration.getDependentResources();
+    final List<DependentResourceConfiguration> configured = configuration.getDependentResources();
     dependents = new ArrayList<>(configured.size());
 
     List<EventSource> sources = new ArrayList<>(configured.size() + 5);
     configured.forEach(dependent -> {
-      dependents.add(configuration.dependentFactory().from(dependent));
-      sources.add(dependent.initEventSource(context));
+      final var dependentResourceController = configuration.dependentFactory().from(dependent);
+      dependents.add(dependentResourceController);
+      sources.add(dependentResourceController.initEventSource(context));
     });
 
     return sources;
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/informer/InformerConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/informer/InformerConfiguration.java
index 0c06698327..49b7ae7654 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/informer/InformerConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/event/source/informer/InformerConfiguration.java
@@ -7,45 +7,57 @@
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.ConfigurationService;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DefaultResourceConfiguration;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.ResourceConfiguration;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceContext;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.ResourceID;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.PrimaryResourcesRetriever;
 
-public class InformerConfiguration<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata>
-    extends DefaultResourceConfiguration<R> {
-
-  private final PrimaryResourcesRetriever<R> secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet;
-  private final AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier<P> associatedWith;
-  private final boolean skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange;
-
-  protected InformerConfiguration(ConfigurationService service, String labelSelector,
-      Class<R> resourceClass,
-      PrimaryResourcesRetriever<R> secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet,
-      AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier<P> associatedWith,
-      boolean skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange, Set<String> namespaces) {
-    super(labelSelector, resourceClass, namespaces);
-    setConfigurationService(service);
-    this.secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet =
-        Objects.requireNonNullElse(secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet, Mappers.fromOwnerReference());
-    this.associatedWith =
-        Objects.requireNonNullElseGet(associatedWith, () -> ResourceID::fromResource);
-    this.skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange = skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange;
-  }
+public interface InformerConfiguration<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata>
+    extends ResourceConfiguration<R> {
+
+  class DefaultInformerConfiguration<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata> extends
+      DefaultResourceConfiguration<R> implements InformerConfiguration<R, P> {
+
+    private final PrimaryResourcesRetriever<R> secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet;
+    private final AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier<P> associatedWith;
+    private final boolean skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange;
+
+    protected DefaultInformerConfiguration(ConfigurationService service, String labelSelector,
+        Class<R> resourceClass,
+        PrimaryResourcesRetriever<R> secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet,
+        AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier<P> associatedWith,
+        boolean skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange, Set<String> namespaces) {
+      super(labelSelector, resourceClass, namespaces);
+      setConfigurationService(service);
+      this.secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet =
+          Objects.requireNonNullElse(secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet,
+              Mappers.fromOwnerReference());
+      this.associatedWith =
+          Objects.requireNonNullElseGet(associatedWith, () -> ResourceID::fromResource);
+      this.skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange = skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange;
+    }
 
-  public PrimaryResourcesRetriever<R> getPrimaryResourcesRetriever() {
-    return secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet;
-  }
+    public PrimaryResourcesRetriever<R> getPrimaryResourcesRetriever() {
+      return secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet;
+    }
 
-  public AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier<P> getAssociatedResourceIdentifier() {
-    return associatedWith;
-  }
+    public AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier<P> getAssociatedResourceIdentifier() {
+      return associatedWith;
+    }
 
-  public boolean isSkipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange() {
-    return skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange;
+    public boolean isSkipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange() {
+      return skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange;
+    }
   }
 
-  public static class InformerConfigurationBuilder<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata> {
+  PrimaryResourcesRetriever<R> getPrimaryResourcesRetriever();
+
+  AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier<P> getAssociatedResourceIdentifier();
+
+  boolean isSkipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange();
+
+  class InformerConfigurationBuilder<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata> {
 
     private PrimaryResourcesRetriever<R> secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet;
     private AssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier<P> associatedWith;
@@ -101,32 +113,32 @@ public InformerConfigurationBuilder<R, P> withLabelSelector(String labelSelector
     }
 
     public InformerConfiguration<R, P> build() {
-      return new InformerConfiguration<>(configurationService, labelSelector, resourceClass,
+      return new DefaultInformerConfiguration<>(configurationService, labelSelector, resourceClass,
           secondaryToPrimaryResourcesIdSet, associatedWith, skipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange,
           namespaces);
     }
   }
 
-  public static <R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata> InformerConfigurationBuilder<R, P> from(
+  static <R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata> InformerConfigurationBuilder<R, P> from(
       EventSourceContext<P> context, Class<R> resourceClass) {
     return new InformerConfigurationBuilder<>(resourceClass, context.getConfigurationService());
   }
 
-  public static InformerConfigurationBuilder from(ConfigurationService configurationService,
+  static InformerConfigurationBuilder from(ConfigurationService configurationService,
       Class resourceClass) {
     return new InformerConfigurationBuilder<>(resourceClass, configurationService);
   }
 
-  public static <R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata> InformerConfigurationBuilder<R, P> from(
+  static <R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata> InformerConfigurationBuilder<R, P> from(
       InformerConfiguration<R, P> configuration) {
     return new InformerConfigurationBuilder<R, P>(configuration.getResourceClass(),
         configuration.getConfigurationService())
-            .withNamespaces(configuration.getNamespaces())
-            .withLabelSelector(configuration.getLabelSelector())
-            .skippingEventPropagationIfUnchanged(
-                configuration.isSkipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange())
-            .withAssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier(
-                configuration.getAssociatedResourceIdentifier())
-            .withPrimaryResourcesRetriever(configuration.getPrimaryResourcesRetriever());
+        .withNamespaces(configuration.getNamespaces())
+        .withLabelSelector(configuration.getLabelSelector())
+        .skippingEventPropagationIfUnchanged(
+            configuration.isSkipUpdateEventPropagationIfNoChange())
+        .withAssociatedSecondaryResourceIdentifier(
+            configuration.getAssociatedResourceIdentifier())
+        .withPrimaryResourcesRetriever(configuration.getPrimaryResourcesRetriever());
   }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/config/runtime/AnnotationConfiguration.java b/operator-framework/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/config/runtime/AnnotationConfiguration.java
index 30d2600cfe..1ffde6de36 100644
--- a/operator-framework/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/config/runtime/AnnotationConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/config/runtime/AnnotationConfiguration.java
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.config.runtime;
 
-import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -12,11 +11,11 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.ConfigurationService;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.Dependent;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DependentResource;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.DependentResourceConfiguration;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.KubernetesDependent;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ControllerConfiguration;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Reconciler;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.KubernetesDependentResourceController;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.controller.ResourceEventFilter;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.controller.ResourceEventFilters;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.informer.InformerConfiguration;
@@ -28,7 +27,7 @@ public class AnnotationConfiguration<R extends HasMetadata>
   private final Reconciler<R> reconciler;
   private final ControllerConfiguration annotation;
   private ConfigurationService service;
-  private List<DependentResource> dependents;
+  private List<DependentResourceConfiguration> dependentConfigurations;
 
   public AnnotationConfiguration(Reconciler<R> reconciler) {
     this.reconciler = reconciler;
@@ -121,27 +120,20 @@ public ResourceEventFilter<R> getEventFilter() {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public List<DependentResource> getDependentResources() {
-    if (dependents == null) {
-      final var dependentConfigs = valueOrDefault(annotation,
-          ControllerConfiguration::dependents, new Dependent[] {});
-      if (dependentConfigs.length > 0) {
-        dependents = new ArrayList<>(dependentConfigs.length);
-        for (Dependent dependentConfig : dependentConfigs) {
-          final Class<? extends DependentResource> dependentType = dependentConfig.type();
-          DependentResource dependent;
-          try {
-            dependent = dependentType.getConstructor().newInstance();
-          } catch (NoSuchMethodException | InvocationTargetException | InstantiationException
-              | IllegalAccessException e) {
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException(e);
-          }
+  public List<DependentResourceConfiguration> getDependentResources() {
+    if (dependentConfigurations == null) {
+      final var dependents = valueOrDefault(annotation, ControllerConfiguration::dependents,
+          new Dependent[]{});
+      if (dependents.length > 0) {
+        dependentConfigurations = new ArrayList<>(dependents.length);
+        for (Dependent dependent : dependents) {
+          final Class<? extends DependentResource> dependentType = dependent.type();
+          final var resourceType = dependent.resourceType();
 
-          final var resourceType = dependentConfig.resourceType();
           if (HasMetadata.class.isAssignableFrom(resourceType)) {
             final var kubeDependent = dependentType.getAnnotation(KubernetesDependent.class);
             final var namespaces =
-                valueOrDefault(kubeDependent, KubernetesDependent::namespaces, new String[] {});
+                valueOrDefault(kubeDependent, KubernetesDependent::namespaces, new String[]{});
             final var labelSelector =
                 valueOrDefault(kubeDependent, KubernetesDependent::labelSelector, null);
             final var owned = valueOrDefault(kubeDependent, KubernetesDependent::owned,
@@ -154,17 +146,28 @@ public List<DependentResource> getDependentResources() {
                 .skippingEventPropagationIfUnchanged(skipIfUnchanged)
                 .withNamespaces(namespaces)
                 .build();
-            dependent = new KubernetesDependentResourceController(dependent,
-                KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration.from(configuration, owned));
-          }
 
-          dependents.add(dependent);
+            dependentConfigurations.add(
+                KubernetesDependentResourceConfiguration.from(configuration, owned, dependentType));
+          } else {
+            dependentConfigurations.add(new DependentResourceConfiguration() {
+              @Override
+              public Class<? extends DependentResource> getDependentResourceClass() {
+                return dependentType;
+              }
+
+              @Override
+              public Class getResourceClass() {
+                return resourceType;
+              }
+            });
+          }
         }
       } else {
-        dependents = Collections.emptyList();
+        dependentConfigurations = Collections.emptyList();
       }
     }
-    return dependents;
+    return dependentConfigurations;
   }
 
   private static <C, T> T valueOrDefault(C annotation, Function<C, T> mapper, T defaultValue) {