diff --git a/apis/contexts.go b/apis/contexts.go
index 4e8b60d6a..a8c7683a4 100644
--- a/apis/contexts.go
+++ b/apis/contexts.go
@@ -134,6 +134,12 @@ func WithinParent(ctx context.Context, om metav1.ObjectMeta) context.Context {
 	return context.WithValue(ctx, parentMetaKey{}, om)
 }
 
+// IsWithinParent returns true if we're within parent context.
+func IsWithinParent(ctx context.Context) bool {
+	_, ok := ctx.Value(parentMetaKey{}).(metav1.ObjectMeta)
+	return ok
+}
+
 // ParentMeta accesses the ObjectMeta of the enclosing parent resource
 // from the context.  See WithinParent for how to attach the parent's
 // ObjectMeta to the context.
diff --git a/apis/contexts_test.go b/apis/contexts_test.go
index 7d3e2856a..e55fddbbb 100644
--- a/apis/contexts_test.go
+++ b/apis/contexts_test.go
@@ -153,6 +153,16 @@ func TestContexts(t *testing.T) {
 		ctx:   WithDryRun(ctx),
 		check: IsDryRun,
 		want:  true,
+	}, {
+		name:  "within parent",
+		ctx:   WithDryRun(ctx),
+		check: IsWithinParent,
+		want:  false,
+	}, {
+		name:  "in dry run",
+		ctx:   WithinParent(ctx, metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "jack"}),
+		check: IsWithinParent,
+		want:  true,
 	}}
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {