diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractExternalDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractExternalDependentResource.java
index c391092422..9a2847bcc0 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractExternalDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractExternalDependentResource.java
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ protected InformerEventSource getExternalStateEventSource() {
   @Override
   protected Optional<R> selectTargetSecondaryResource(
       Set<R> secondaryResources, P primary, Context<P> context) {
-    R desired = desired(primary, context);
+    R desired = getOrComputeDesired(context);
     List<R> targetResources;
     var desiredID = resourceIDMapper.idFor(desired);
     targetResources =