diff --git a/controllers/openstackcluster_controller.go b/controllers/openstackcluster_controller.go
index 3b2c5f1110..e928b17847 100644
--- a/controllers/openstackcluster_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/openstackcluster_controller.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
+	kerrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/errors"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
 	"k8s.io/utils/pointer"
 	clusterv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/api/v1beta1"
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ type OpenStackClusterReconciler struct {
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=infrastructure.cluster.x-k8s.io,resources=openstackclusters/status,verbs=get;update;patch
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=cluster.x-k8s.io,resources=clusters;clusters/status,verbs=get;list;watch
 
-func (r *OpenStackClusterReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request) (_ ctrl.Result, reterr error) {
+func (r *OpenStackClusterReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request) (result ctrl.Result, reterr error) {
 	log := ctrl.LoggerFrom(ctx)
 
 	// Fetch the OpenStackCluster instance
@@ -108,9 +109,8 @@ func (r *OpenStackClusterReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Req
 	// Always patch the openStackCluster when exiting this function so we can persist any OpenStackCluster changes.
 	defer func() {
 		if err := patchHelper.Patch(ctx, openStackCluster); err != nil {
-			if reterr == nil {
-				reterr = fmt.Errorf("error patching OpenStackCluster %s/%s: %w", openStackCluster.Namespace, openStackCluster.Name, err)
-			}
+			result = ctrl.Result{}
+			reterr = kerrors.NewAggregate([]error{reterr, fmt.Errorf("error patching OpenStackCluster %s/%s: %w", openStackCluster.Namespace, openStackCluster.Name, err)})
 		}
 	}()
 
diff --git a/controllers/openstackmachine_controller.go b/controllers/openstackmachine_controller.go
index 77104d804a..56d195d8eb 100644
--- a/controllers/openstackmachine_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/openstackmachine_controller.go
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ const (
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=secrets;,verbs=get;list;watch
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=events,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update;patch
 
-func (r *OpenStackMachineReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request) (_ ctrl.Result, reterr error) {
+func (r *OpenStackMachineReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request) (result ctrl.Result, reterr error) {
 	log := ctrl.LoggerFrom(ctx)
 
 	// Fetch the OpenStackMachine instance.
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ func (r *OpenStackMachineReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Req
 	// Always patch the openStackMachine when exiting this function so we can persist any OpenStackMachine changes.
 	defer func() {
 		if err := patchMachine(ctx, patchHelper, openStackMachine, machine); err != nil {
+			result = ctrl.Result{}
 			reterr = kerrors.NewAggregate([]error{reterr, err})
 		}
 	}()