diff --git a/controllers/azurejson_machine_controller.go b/controllers/azurejson_machine_controller.go
index 861e70aa455..108afb930d8 100644
--- a/controllers/azurejson_machine_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/azurejson_machine_controller.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
+	"k8s.io/utils/pointer"
 	infrav1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api-provider-azure/api/v1beta1"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api-provider-azure/azure/scope"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api-provider-azure/azure/services/identities"
@@ -208,6 +209,7 @@ func (r *AzureJSONMachineReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Req
 		Kind:       kind,
 		Name:       azureMachine.GetName(),
 		UID:        azureMachine.GetUID(),
+		Controller: pointer.Bool(true),
 	}
 
 	// Construct secret for this machine
diff --git a/controllers/azurejson_machinepool_controller.go b/controllers/azurejson_machinepool_controller.go
index 653496f17f9..a126ba21a93 100644
--- a/controllers/azurejson_machinepool_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/azurejson_machinepool_controller.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
+	"k8s.io/utils/pointer"
 	infrav1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api-provider-azure/api/v1beta1"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api-provider-azure/azure/scope"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api-provider-azure/azure/services/identities"
@@ -189,6 +190,7 @@ func (r *AzureJSONMachinePoolReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl
 		Kind:       kind,
 		Name:       azureMachinePool.GetName(),
 		UID:        azureMachinePool.GetUID(),
+		Controller: pointer.Bool(true),
 	}
 
 	if azureMachinePool.Spec.Identity == infrav1.VMIdentityNone {
diff --git a/controllers/azurejson_machinetemplate_controller.go b/controllers/azurejson_machinetemplate_controller.go
index 69c374ca857..6803a44a69a 100644
--- a/controllers/azurejson_machinetemplate_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/azurejson_machinetemplate_controller.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
+	"k8s.io/utils/pointer"
 	infrav1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api-provider-azure/api/v1beta1"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api-provider-azure/azure/scope"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api-provider-azure/azure/services/identities"
@@ -168,6 +169,7 @@ func (r *AzureJSONTemplateReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Re
 		Kind:       kind,
 		Name:       azureMachineTemplate.GetName(),
 		UID:        azureMachineTemplate.GetUID(),
+		Controller: pointer.Bool(true),
 	}
 
 	// Construct secret for this machine template