diff --git a/codegen/cmd/injection-gen/generators/reconciler_reconciler.go b/codegen/cmd/injection-gen/generators/reconciler_reconciler.go
index 70a6578f3..647b82fd0 100644
--- a/codegen/cmd/injection-gen/generators/reconciler_reconciler.go
+++ b/codegen/cmd/injection-gen/generators/reconciler_reconciler.go
@@ -463,10 +463,11 @@ func (r *reconcilerImpl) updateFinalizersFiltered(ctx {{.contextContext|raw}}, r
 	{{else}}
 	patcher := r.Client.{{.group}}{{.version}}().{{.type|apiGroup}}(resource.Namespace)
 	{{end}}
-	resource, err = patcher.Patch(resource.Name, {{.typesMergePatchType|raw}}, patch)
+	resourceName := resource.Name
+	resource, err = patcher.Patch(resourceName, {{.typesMergePatchType|raw}}, patch)
 	if err != nil {
 		r.Recorder.Eventf(resource, {{.corev1EventTypeWarning|raw}}, "FinalizerUpdateFailed",
-			"Failed to update finalizers for %q: %v", resource.Name, err)
+			"Failed to update finalizers for %q: %v", resourceName, err)
 	} else {
 		r.Recorder.Eventf(resource, {{.corev1EventTypeNormal|raw}}, "FinalizerUpdate",
 			"Updated %q finalizers", resource.GetName())