diff --git a/api/v1alpha3/conversion.go b/api/v1alpha3/conversion.go
index f8129ac1f299..3d890553c90c 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha3/conversion.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha3/conversion.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package v1alpha3
 import (
 	apiconversion "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/conversion"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/api/v1alpha4"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conditions"
 	utilconversion "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conversion"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/conversion"
 )
@@ -26,13 +27,32 @@ import (
 func (src *Cluster) ConvertTo(dstRaw conversion.Hub) error {
 	dst := dstRaw.(*v1alpha4.Cluster)
 
-	return Convert_v1alpha3_Cluster_To_v1alpha4_Cluster(src, dst, nil)
+	if err := Convert_v1alpha3_Cluster_To_v1alpha4_Cluster(src, dst, nil); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Given this is a bool and there is no timestamp associated with it, when this condition is set, its timestamp
+	// will be "now". See https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/issues/3798#issuecomment-708619826 for more
+	// discussion.
+	if src.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized {
+		conditions.MarkTrue(dst, v1alpha4.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (dst *Cluster) ConvertFrom(srcRaw conversion.Hub) error {
 	src := srcRaw.(*v1alpha4.Cluster)
 
-	return Convert_v1alpha4_Cluster_To_v1alpha3_Cluster(src, dst, nil)
+	if err := Convert_v1alpha4_Cluster_To_v1alpha3_Cluster(src, dst, nil); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if conditions.IsTrue(src, v1alpha4.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition) {
+		dst.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (src *ClusterList) ConvertTo(dstRaw conversion.Hub) error {
@@ -174,10 +194,14 @@ func (dst *MachineHealthCheckList) ConvertFrom(srcRaw conversion.Hub) error {
 }
 
 // Convert_v1alpha3_Bootstrap_To_v1alpha4_Bootstrap is an autogenerated conversion function.
-func Convert_v1alpha3_Bootstrap_To_v1alpha4_Bootstrap(in *Bootstrap, out *v1alpha4.Bootstrap, s apiconversion.Scope) error { //nolint
+func Convert_v1alpha3_Bootstrap_To_v1alpha4_Bootstrap(in *Bootstrap, out *v1alpha4.Bootstrap, s apiconversion.Scope) error { // nolint
 	return autoConvert_v1alpha3_Bootstrap_To_v1alpha4_Bootstrap(in, out, s)
 }
 
 func Convert_v1alpha4_MachineRollingUpdateDeployment_To_v1alpha3_MachineRollingUpdateDeployment(in *v1alpha4.MachineRollingUpdateDeployment, out *MachineRollingUpdateDeployment, s apiconversion.Scope) error {
 	return autoConvert_v1alpha4_MachineRollingUpdateDeployment_To_v1alpha3_MachineRollingUpdateDeployment(in, out, s)
 }
+
+func Convert_v1alpha3_ClusterStatus_To_v1alpha4_ClusterStatus(in *ClusterStatus, out *v1alpha4.ClusterStatus, s apiconversion.Scope) error {
+	return autoConvert_v1alpha3_ClusterStatus_To_v1alpha4_ClusterStatus(in, out, s)
+}
diff --git a/api/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go b/api/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
index 0f00332f99b7..6243deb915c9 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -94,11 +94,6 @@ func RegisterConversions(s *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	}); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*ClusterStatus)(nil), (*v1alpha4.ClusterStatus)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
-		return Convert_v1alpha3_ClusterStatus_To_v1alpha4_ClusterStatus(a.(*ClusterStatus), b.(*v1alpha4.ClusterStatus), scope)
-	}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*v1alpha4.ClusterStatus)(nil), (*ClusterStatus)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
 		return Convert_v1alpha4_ClusterStatus_To_v1alpha3_ClusterStatus(a.(*v1alpha4.ClusterStatus), b.(*ClusterStatus), scope)
 	}); err != nil {
@@ -354,6 +349,11 @@ func RegisterConversions(s *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	}); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if err := s.AddConversionFunc((*ClusterStatus)(nil), (*v1alpha4.ClusterStatus)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+		return Convert_v1alpha3_ClusterStatus_To_v1alpha4_ClusterStatus(a.(*ClusterStatus), b.(*v1alpha4.ClusterStatus), scope)
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := s.AddConversionFunc((*v1alpha4.MachineRollingUpdateDeployment)(nil), (*MachineRollingUpdateDeployment)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
 		return Convert_v1alpha4_MachineRollingUpdateDeployment_To_v1alpha3_MachineRollingUpdateDeployment(a.(*v1alpha4.MachineRollingUpdateDeployment), b.(*MachineRollingUpdateDeployment), scope)
 	}); err != nil {
@@ -436,7 +436,17 @@ func Convert_v1alpha4_Cluster_To_v1alpha3_Cluster(in *v1alpha4.Cluster, out *Clu
 
 func autoConvert_v1alpha3_ClusterList_To_v1alpha4_ClusterList(in *ClusterList, out *v1alpha4.ClusterList, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.ListMeta = in.ListMeta
-	out.Items = *(*[]v1alpha4.Cluster)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.Items))
+	if in.Items != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Items, &out.Items
+		*out = make([]v1alpha4.Cluster, len(*in))
+		for i := range *in {
+			if err := Convert_v1alpha3_Cluster_To_v1alpha4_Cluster(&(*in)[i], &(*out)[i], s); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		out.Items = nil
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -447,7 +457,17 @@ func Convert_v1alpha3_ClusterList_To_v1alpha4_ClusterList(in *ClusterList, out *
 
 func autoConvert_v1alpha4_ClusterList_To_v1alpha3_ClusterList(in *v1alpha4.ClusterList, out *ClusterList, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.ListMeta = in.ListMeta
-	out.Items = *(*[]Cluster)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.Items))
+	if in.Items != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Items, &out.Items
+		*out = make([]Cluster, len(*in))
+		for i := range *in {
+			if err := Convert_v1alpha4_Cluster_To_v1alpha3_Cluster(&(*in)[i], &(*out)[i], s); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		out.Items = nil
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -520,25 +540,19 @@ func autoConvert_v1alpha3_ClusterStatus_To_v1alpha4_ClusterStatus(in *ClusterSta
 	out.FailureMessage = (*string)(unsafe.Pointer(in.FailureMessage))
 	out.Phase = in.Phase
 	out.InfrastructureReady = in.InfrastructureReady
-	out.ControlPlaneInitialized = in.ControlPlaneInitialized
+	// WARNING: in.ControlPlaneInitialized requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.ControlPlaneReady = in.ControlPlaneReady
 	out.Conditions = *(*v1alpha4.Conditions)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.Conditions))
 	out.ObservedGeneration = in.ObservedGeneration
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Convert_v1alpha3_ClusterStatus_To_v1alpha4_ClusterStatus is an autogenerated conversion function.
-func Convert_v1alpha3_ClusterStatus_To_v1alpha4_ClusterStatus(in *ClusterStatus, out *v1alpha4.ClusterStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	return autoConvert_v1alpha3_ClusterStatus_To_v1alpha4_ClusterStatus(in, out, s)
-}
-
 func autoConvert_v1alpha4_ClusterStatus_To_v1alpha3_ClusterStatus(in *v1alpha4.ClusterStatus, out *ClusterStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.FailureDomains = *(*FailureDomains)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.FailureDomains))
 	out.FailureReason = (*errors.ClusterStatusError)(unsafe.Pointer(in.FailureReason))
 	out.FailureMessage = (*string)(unsafe.Pointer(in.FailureMessage))
 	out.Phase = in.Phase
 	out.InfrastructureReady = in.InfrastructureReady
-	out.ControlPlaneInitialized = in.ControlPlaneInitialized
 	out.ControlPlaneReady = in.ControlPlaneReady
 	out.Conditions = *(*Conditions)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.Conditions))
 	out.ObservedGeneration = in.ObservedGeneration
diff --git a/api/v1alpha4/cluster_types.go b/api/v1alpha4/cluster_types.go
index b41a77c1e30e..51d1893a2b06 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha4/cluster_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha4/cluster_types.go
@@ -128,10 +128,6 @@ type ClusterStatus struct {
 	// +optional
 	InfrastructureReady bool `json:"infrastructureReady"`
 
-	// ControlPlaneInitialized defines if the control plane has been initialized.
-	// +optional
-	ControlPlaneInitialized bool `json:"controlPlaneInitialized"`
-
 	// ControlPlaneReady defines if the control plane is ready.
 	// +optional
 	ControlPlaneReady bool `json:"controlPlaneReady,omitempty"`
diff --git a/api/v1alpha4/condition_consts.go b/api/v1alpha4/condition_consts.go
index 455d89893ff0..cd2f3898842e 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha4/condition_consts.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha4/condition_consts.go
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ const (
 	// its node reference populated.
 	MissingNodeRefReason = "MissingNodeRef"
 
+	// WaitingForControlPlaneProviderInitializedReason (Severity=Info) documents a cluster waiting for the control plane
+	// provider to report successful control plane initialization.
+	WaitingForControlPlaneProviderInitializedReason = "WaitingForControlPlaneProviderInitialized"
+
 	// ControlPlaneReady reports the ready condition from the control plane object defined for this cluster.
 	// This condition is mirrored from the Ready condition in the control plane ref object, and
 	// the absence of this condition might signal problems in the reconcile external loops or the fact that
diff --git a/bootstrap/kubeadm/controllers/kubeadmconfig_controller.go b/bootstrap/kubeadm/controllers/kubeadmconfig_controller.go
index 781f38ac7d71..176384b1d8d7 100644
--- a/bootstrap/kubeadm/controllers/kubeadmconfig_controller.go
+++ b/bootstrap/kubeadm/controllers/kubeadmconfig_controller.go
@@ -242,7 +242,8 @@ func (r *KubeadmConfigReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Reques
 		return ctrl.Result{}, nil
 	}
 
-	if !cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized {
+	// Note: can't use IsFalse here because we need to handle the absence of the condition as well as false.
+	if !conditions.IsTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition) {
 		return r.handleClusterNotInitialized(ctx, scope)
 	}
 
diff --git a/bootstrap/kubeadm/controllers/kubeadmconfig_controller_test.go b/bootstrap/kubeadm/controllers/kubeadmconfig_controller_test.go
index 06135ceb2bc3..3a4bba31f21d 100644
--- a/bootstrap/kubeadm/controllers/kubeadmconfig_controller_test.go
+++ b/bootstrap/kubeadm/controllers/kubeadmconfig_controller_test.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/patch"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -41,6 +40,7 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/test/helpers"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conditions"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/patch"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/secret"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ func TestKubeadmConfigReconciler_Reconcile_ErrorIfJoiningControlPlaneHasInvalidC
 	// TODO: extract this kind of code into a setup function that puts the state of objects into an initialized controlplane (implies secrets exist)
 	cluster := newCluster("cluster")
 	cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
-	cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+	conditions.MarkTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 	cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneEndpoint = clusterv1.APIEndpoint{Host: "100.105.150.1", Port: 6443}
 	controlPlaneInitMachine := newControlPlaneMachine(cluster, "control-plane-init-machine")
 	controlPlaneInitConfig := newControlPlaneInitKubeadmConfig(controlPlaneInitMachine, "control-plane-init-cfg")
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ func TestKubeadmConfigReconciler_Reconcile_RequeueIfControlPlaneIsMissingAPIEndp
 
 	cluster := newCluster("cluster")
 	cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
-	cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+	conditions.MarkTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 	controlPlaneInitMachine := newControlPlaneMachine(cluster, "control-plane-init-machine")
 	controlPlaneInitConfig := newControlPlaneInitKubeadmConfig(controlPlaneInitMachine, "control-plane-init-cfg")
 
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ func TestKubeadmConfigReconciler_Reconcile_RequeueIfControlPlaneIsMissingAPIEndp
 func TestReconcileIfJoinNodesAndControlPlaneIsReady(t *testing.T) {
 	cluster := newCluster("cluster")
 	cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
-	cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+	conditions.MarkTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 	cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneEndpoint = clusterv1.APIEndpoint{Host: "100.105.150.1", Port: 6443}
 
 	var useCases = []struct {
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ func TestReconcileIfJoinNodePoolsAndControlPlaneIsReady(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cluster := newCluster("cluster")
 	cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
-	cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+	conditions.MarkTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 	cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneEndpoint = clusterv1.APIEndpoint{Host: "100.105.150.1", Port: 6443}
 
 	var useCases = []struct {
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ func TestKubeadmConfigSecretCreatedStatusNotPatched(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cluster := newCluster("cluster")
 	cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
-	cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+	conditions.MarkTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 	cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneEndpoint = clusterv1.APIEndpoint{Host: "100.105.150.1", Port: 6443}
 
 	controlPlaneInitMachine := newControlPlaneMachine(cluster, "control-plane-init-machine")
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ func TestBootstrapTokenTTLExtension(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cluster := newCluster("cluster")
 	cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
-	cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+	conditions.MarkTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 	cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneEndpoint = clusterv1.APIEndpoint{Host: "100.105.150.1", Port: 6443}
 
 	controlPlaneInitMachine := newControlPlaneMachine(cluster, "control-plane-init-machine")
@@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ func TestBootstrapTokenRotationMachinePool(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cluster := newCluster("cluster")
 	cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
-	cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+	conditions.MarkTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 	cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneEndpoint = clusterv1.APIEndpoint{Host: "100.105.150.1", Port: 6443}
 
 	controlPlaneInitMachine := newControlPlaneMachine(cluster, "control-plane-init-machine")
@@ -1305,7 +1305,7 @@ func TestKubeadmConfigReconciler_Reconcile_AlwaysCheckCAVerificationUnlessReques
 	// Setup work for an initialized cluster
 	clusterName := "my-cluster"
 	cluster := newCluster(clusterName)
-	cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+	conditions.MarkTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 	cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
 	cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneEndpoint = clusterv1.APIEndpoint{
 		Host: "example.com",
@@ -1433,7 +1433,6 @@ func TestKubeadmConfigReconciler_Reconcile_DoesNotFailIfCASecretsAlreadyExist(t
 
 	cluster := newCluster("my-cluster")
 	cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
-	cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = false
 	m := newControlPlaneMachine(cluster, "control-plane-machine")
 	configName := "my-config"
 	c := newControlPlaneInitKubeadmConfig(m, configName)
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/mover.go b/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/mover.go
index a4d40be34dd3..a44f7b48cb2d 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/mover.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/mover.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/version"
 	clusterv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/api/v1alpha4"
 	logf "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/cmd/clusterctl/log"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conditions"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 )
 
@@ -137,7 +138,8 @@ func (o *objectMover) checkProvisioningCompleted(graph *objectGraph) error {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if !clusterObj.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized {
+		// Note: can't use IsFalse here because we need to handle the absence of the condition as well as false.
+		if !conditions.IsTrue(clusterObj, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition) {
 			errList = append(errList, errors.Errorf("cannot start the move operation while the control plane for %q %s/%s is not yet initialized", clusterObj.GroupVersionKind(), clusterObj.GetNamespace(), clusterObj.GetName()))
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/mover_test.go b/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/mover_test.go
index 5718d4fa0700..07fc152cedbd 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/mover_test.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/mover_test.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	clusterv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/api/v1alpha4"
 	clusterctlv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/cmd/clusterctl/api/v1alpha3"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/cmd/clusterctl/internal/test"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conditions"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 )
 
@@ -643,8 +644,10 @@ func Test_objectMover_checkProvisioningCompleted(t *testing.T) {
 							Name:      "cluster1",
 						},
 						Status: clusterv1.ClusterStatus{
-							InfrastructureReady:     false,
-							ControlPlaneInitialized: true,
+							InfrastructureReady: false,
+							Conditions: clusterv1.Conditions{
+								*conditions.TrueCondition(clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition),
+							},
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -665,8 +668,31 @@ func Test_objectMover_checkProvisioningCompleted(t *testing.T) {
 							Name:      "cluster1",
 						},
 						Status: clusterv1.ClusterStatus{
-							InfrastructureReady:     true,
-							ControlPlaneInitialized: false,
+							InfrastructureReady: true,
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "Blocks with a cluster with ControlPlaneInitialized=False",
+			fields: fields{
+				objs: []client.Object{
+					&clusterv1.Cluster{
+						TypeMeta: metav1.TypeMeta{
+							Kind:       "Cluster",
+							APIVersion: clusterv1.GroupVersion.String(),
+						},
+						ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+							Namespace: "ns1",
+							Name:      "cluster1",
+						},
+						Status: clusterv1.ClusterStatus{
+							InfrastructureReady: true,
+							Conditions: clusterv1.Conditions{
+								*conditions.FalseCondition(clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition, "", clusterv1.ConditionSeverityInfo, ""),
+							},
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -690,9 +716,11 @@ func Test_objectMover_checkProvisioningCompleted(t *testing.T) {
 							ControlPlaneRef: &corev1.ObjectReference{},
 						},
 						Status: clusterv1.ClusterStatus{
-							InfrastructureReady:     true,
-							ControlPlaneInitialized: true,
-							ControlPlaneReady:       false,
+							InfrastructureReady: true,
+							Conditions: clusterv1.Conditions{
+								*conditions.TrueCondition(clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition),
+							},
+							ControlPlaneReady: false,
 						},
 					},
 				},
@@ -714,8 +742,10 @@ func Test_objectMover_checkProvisioningCompleted(t *testing.T) {
 							UID:       "cluster1",
 						},
 						Status: clusterv1.ClusterStatus{
-							InfrastructureReady:     true,
-							ControlPlaneInitialized: true,
+							InfrastructureReady: true,
+							Conditions: clusterv1.Conditions{
+								*conditions.TrueCondition(clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition),
+							},
 						},
 					},
 					&clusterv1.Machine{
@@ -758,8 +788,10 @@ func Test_objectMover_checkProvisioningCompleted(t *testing.T) {
 							UID:       "cluster1",
 						},
 						Status: clusterv1.ClusterStatus{
-							InfrastructureReady:     true,
-							ControlPlaneInitialized: true,
+							InfrastructureReady: true,
+							Conditions: clusterv1.Conditions{
+								*conditions.TrueCondition(clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition),
+							},
 						},
 					},
 					&clusterv1.Machine{
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/cluster.x-k8s.io_clusters.yaml b/config/crd/bases/cluster.x-k8s.io_clusters.yaml
index 8d4b3d5177c4..c800cdcb4ae4 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/cluster.x-k8s.io_clusters.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/cluster.x-k8s.io_clusters.yaml
@@ -367,9 +367,6 @@ spec:
                   - type
                   type: object
                 type: array
-              controlPlaneInitialized:
-                description: ControlPlaneInitialized defines if the control plane has been initialized.
-                type: boolean
               controlPlaneReady:
                 description: ControlPlaneReady defines if the control plane is ready.
                 type: boolean
diff --git a/controllers/cluster_controller.go b/controllers/cluster_controller.go
index bac33948cadb..59d16d420b34 100644
--- a/controllers/cluster_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/cluster_controller.go
@@ -463,6 +463,12 @@ func splitMachineList(list *clusterv1.MachineList) (*clusterv1.MachineList, *clu
 }
 
 func (r *ClusterReconciler) reconcileControlPlaneInitialized(ctx context.Context, cluster *clusterv1.Cluster) (ctrl.Result, error) {
+	// Skip checking if the control plane is initialized when using a Control Plane Provider (this is reconciled in
+	// reconcileControlPlane instead).
+	if cluster.Spec.ControlPlaneRef != nil {
+		return ctrl.Result{}, nil
+	}
+
 	if conditions.IsTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition) {
 		return ctrl.Result{}, nil
 	}
@@ -505,7 +511,7 @@ func (r *ClusterReconciler) controlPlaneMachineToCluster(o client.Object) []ctrl
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized {
+	if conditions.IsTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition) {
 		return nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/controllers/cluster_controller_phases.go b/controllers/cluster_controller_phases.go
index 0167b5425909..234bc854fdaa 100644
--- a/controllers/cluster_controller_phases.go
+++ b/controllers/cluster_controller_phases.go
@@ -237,12 +237,16 @@ func (r *ClusterReconciler) reconcileControlPlane(ctx context.Context, cluster *
 
 	// Update cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized if it hasn't already been set
 	// Determine if the control plane provider is initialized.
-	if !cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized {
+	if !conditions.IsTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition) {
 		initialized, err := external.IsInitialized(controlPlaneConfig)
 		if err != nil {
 			return ctrl.Result{}, err
 		}
-		cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = initialized
+		if initialized {
+			conditions.MarkTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
+		} else {
+			conditions.MarkFalse(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition, clusterv1.WaitingForControlPlaneProviderInitializedReason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityInfo, "Waiting for control plane provider to indicate the control plane has been initialized")
+		}
 	}
 
 	return ctrl.Result{}, nil
diff --git a/controllers/cluster_controller_test.go b/controllers/cluster_controller_test.go
index 2f909d3ab03c..cd292cf2ed61 100644
--- a/controllers/cluster_controller_test.go
+++ b/controllers/cluster_controller_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conditions"
 
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Cluster Reconciler", func() {
 		}, timeout).ShouldNot(BeEmpty())
 	})
 
-	It("Should successfully set Status.ControlPlaneInitialized on the cluster object if controlplane is ready", func() {
+	It("Should successfully set ControlPlaneInitialized on the cluster object if controlplane is ready", func() {
 		cluster := &clusterv1.Cluster{
 			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 				GenerateName: "test6-",
@@ -319,7 +320,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Cluster Reconciler", func() {
 			if err := testEnv.Get(ctx, key, cluster); err != nil {
 				return false
 			}
-			return cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized
+			return conditions.IsTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 		}, timeout).Should(BeTrue())
 	})
 })
@@ -642,5 +643,5 @@ func TestReconcileControlPlaneInitializedControlPlaneRef(t *testing.T) {
 	res, err := r.reconcileControlPlaneInitialized(ctx, c)
 	g.Expect(res.IsZero()).To(BeTrue())
 	g.Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-	g.Expect(c.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized).To(BeFalse())
+	g.Expect(conditions.Has(c, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)).To(BeFalse())
 }
diff --git a/controllers/machine_controller.go b/controllers/machine_controller.go
index 86dabb571aa2..370c018b4f7a 100644
--- a/controllers/machine_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/machine_controller.go
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ func patchMachine(ctx context.Context, patchHelper *patch.Helper, machine *clust
 func (r *MachineReconciler) reconcile(ctx context.Context, cluster *clusterv1.Cluster, m *clusterv1.Machine) (ctrl.Result, error) {
 	log := ctrl.LoggerFrom(ctx)
 
-	if cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized {
+	if conditions.IsTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition) {
 		if err := r.watchClusterNodes(ctx, cluster); err != nil {
 			log.Error(err, "error watching nodes on target cluster")
 			return ctrl.Result{}, err
diff --git a/controllers/machine_controller_test.go b/controllers/machine_controller_test.go
index d0ca798f50d8..3bc8b4aca355 100644
--- a/controllers/machine_controller_test.go
+++ b/controllers/machine_controller_test.go
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func TestWatches(t *testing.T) {
 	// Patch cluster control plane initialized (this is required to start node watch)
 	patchHelper, err := patch.NewHelper(testCluster, testEnv)
 	g.Expect(err).ShouldNot(HaveOccurred())
-	testCluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+	conditions.MarkTrue(testCluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 	g.Expect(patchHelper.Patch(ctx, testCluster, patch.WithStatusObservedGeneration{})).To(Succeed())
 
 	// Patch infra machine ready
diff --git a/controllers/machinehealthcheck_controller_test.go b/controllers/machinehealthcheck_controller_test.go
index e8f863217d16..ffa3c0b995e3 100644
--- a/controllers/machinehealthcheck_controller_test.go
+++ b/controllers/machinehealthcheck_controller_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/log"
+
 	"sort"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/patch"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client/fake"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/log"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/reconcile"
 )
 
diff --git a/controllers/remote/cluster_cache.go b/controllers/remote/cluster_cache.go
index b6c402a9a85e..9c45ae68069c 100644
--- a/controllers/remote/cluster_cache.go
+++ b/controllers/remote/cluster_cache.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/scheme"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/rest"
 	clusterv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/api/v1alpha4"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conditions"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/cache"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
@@ -313,7 +314,7 @@ func (t *ClusterCacheTracker) healthCheckCluster(ctx context.Context, in *health
 			return false, nil
 		}
 
-		if !cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady || !cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized {
+		if !cluster.Status.InfrastructureReady || !conditions.IsTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition) {
 			// If the infrastructure or control plane aren't marked as ready, we should requeue and wait.
 			return false, nil
 		}
diff --git a/controllers/remote/cluster_cache_healthcheck_test.go b/controllers/remote/cluster_cache_healthcheck_test.go
index 77fb2a541693..37212e2b5b24 100644
--- a/controllers/remote/cluster_cache_healthcheck_test.go
+++ b/controllers/remote/cluster_cache_healthcheck_test.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/klog/klogr"
 	clusterv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/api/v1alpha4"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conditions"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
 )
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ var _ = Describe("ClusterCache HealthCheck suite", func() {
 				},
 			}
 			Expect(k8sClient.Create(ctx, testCluster)).To(Succeed())
-			testCluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+			conditions.MarkTrue(testCluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 			testCluster.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
 			Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, testCluster)).To(Succeed())
 
diff --git a/controllers/remote/cluster_cache_tracker_test.go b/controllers/remote/cluster_cache_tracker_test.go
index 5b67cc09a995..3daf58205ca2 100644
--- a/controllers/remote/cluster_cache_tracker_test.go
+++ b/controllers/remote/cluster_cache_tracker_test.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/scheme"
 	clusterv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/api/v1alpha4"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conditions"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/handler"
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ var _ = Describe("ClusterCache Tracker suite", func() {
 				},
 			}
 			Expect(k8sClient.Create(ctx, clusterA)).To(Succeed())
-			clusterA.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized = true
+			conditions.MarkTrue(clusterA, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition)
 			clusterA.Status.InfrastructureReady = true
 			Expect(k8sClient.Status().Update(ctx, clusterA)).To(Succeed())
 
diff --git a/test/infrastructure/docker/controllers/dockermachine_controller.go b/test/infrastructure/docker/controllers/dockermachine_controller.go
index a96334e87eae..980007ed2dc8 100644
--- a/test/infrastructure/docker/controllers/dockermachine_controller.go
+++ b/test/infrastructure/docker/controllers/dockermachine_controller.go
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ func (r *DockerMachineReconciler) reconcileNormal(ctx context.Context, cluster *
 
 	// Make sure bootstrap data is available and populated.
 	if machine.Spec.Bootstrap.DataSecretName == nil {
-		if !util.IsControlPlaneMachine(machine) && !cluster.Status.ControlPlaneInitialized {
+		if !util.IsControlPlaneMachine(machine) && !conditions.IsTrue(cluster, clusterv1.ControlPlaneInitializedCondition) {
 			log.Info("Waiting for the control plane to be initialized")
 			conditions.MarkFalse(dockerMachine, infrav1.ContainerProvisionedCondition, clusterv1.WaitingForControlPlaneAvailableReason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityInfo, "")
 			return ctrl.Result{}, nil