diff --git a/pkg/controller/cluster/cluster_controller.go b/pkg/controller/cluster/cluster_controller.go
index 3387e00cfa8c..e4430bd61554 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/cluster/cluster_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/cluster/cluster_controller.go
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ package cluster
 import (
 	"context"
 
-	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/klog"
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ func (r *ReconcileCluster) Reconcile(request reconcile.Request) (reconcile.Resul
 	cluster := &clusterv1alpha1.Cluster{}
 	err := r.Get(context.Background(), request.NamespacedName, cluster)
 	if err != nil {
-		if errors.IsNotFound(err) {
+		if apierrors.IsNotFound(err) {
 			// Object not found, return.  Created objects are automatically garbage collected.
 			// For additional cleanup logic use finalizers.
 			return reconcile.Result{}, nil
@@ -137,11 +138,10 @@ func (r *ReconcileCluster) Reconcile(request reconcile.Request) (reconcile.Resul
 	}
 
 	klog.Infof("reconciling cluster object %v triggers idempotent reconcile.", name)
-	err = r.actuator.Reconcile(cluster)
-	if err != nil {
-		if requeueErr, ok := err.(*controllerError.RequeueAfterError); ok {
-			klog.Infof("Actuator returned requeue after error: %v", requeueErr)
-			return reconcile.Result{Requeue: true, RequeueAfter: requeueErr.RequeueAfter}, nil
+	if err := r.actuator.Reconcile(cluster); err != nil {
+		if requeueErr, ok := errors.Cause(err).(controllerError.HasRequeueAfterError); ok {
+			klog.Infof("Actuator returned requeue-after error: %v", requeueErr)
+			return reconcile.Result{Requeue: true, RequeueAfter: requeueErr.GetRequeueAfter()}, nil
 		}
 		klog.Errorf("Error reconciling cluster object %v; %v", name, err)
 		return reconcile.Result{}, err
diff --git a/pkg/controller/error/requeue_error.go b/pkg/controller/error/requeue_error.go
index b1e424bf597d..a559529adbb4 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/error/requeue_error.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/error/requeue_error.go
@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
+// HasRequeueAfterError represents that an actuator managed object should
+// be requeued for further processing after the given RequeueAfter time has
+// passed.
+type HasRequeueAfterError interface {
+	// GetRequeueAfter gets the duration to wait until the managed object is
+	// requeued for further processing.
+	GetRequeueAfter() time.Duration
+}
+
 // RequeueAfterError represents that an actuator managed object should be
 // requeued for further processing after the given RequeueAfter time has
 // passed.
@@ -32,3 +41,9 @@ type RequeueAfterError struct {
 func (e *RequeueAfterError) Error() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("requeue in: %s", e.RequeueAfter)
 }
+
+// GetRequeueAfter gets the duration to wait until the managed object is
+// requeued for further processing.
+func (e *RequeueAfterError) GetRequeueAfter() time.Duration {
+	return e.RequeueAfter
+}
diff --git a/pkg/controller/machine/machine_controller.go b/pkg/controller/machine/machine_controller.go
index bfd4c4f39047..3b29738ea4ac 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/machine/machine_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/machine/machine_controller.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"os"
 
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
@@ -169,9 +170,9 @@ func (r *ReconcileMachine) Reconcile(request reconcile.Request) (reconcile.Resul
 
 		klog.Infof("Reconciling machine %q triggers delete", name)
 		if err := r.actuator.Delete(ctx, cluster, m); err != nil {
-			if requeueErr, ok := err.(*controllerError.RequeueAfterError); ok {
+			if requeueErr, ok := errors.Cause(err).(controllerError.HasRequeueAfterError); ok {
 				klog.Infof("Actuator returned requeue-after error: %v", requeueErr)
-				return reconcile.Result{Requeue: true, RequeueAfter: requeueErr.RequeueAfter}, nil
+				return reconcile.Result{Requeue: true, RequeueAfter: requeueErr.GetRequeueAfter()}, nil
 			}
 
 			klog.Errorf("Failed to delete machine %q: %v", name, err)
@@ -206,9 +207,9 @@ func (r *ReconcileMachine) Reconcile(request reconcile.Request) (reconcile.Resul
 	if exist {
 		klog.Infof("Reconciling machine %q triggers idempotent update", name)
 		if err := r.actuator.Update(ctx, cluster, m); err != nil {
-			if requeueErr, ok := err.(*controllerError.RequeueAfterError); ok {
+			if requeueErr, ok := errors.Cause(err).(controllerError.HasRequeueAfterError); ok {
 				klog.Infof("Actuator returned requeue-after error: %v", requeueErr)
-				return reconcile.Result{Requeue: true, RequeueAfter: requeueErr.RequeueAfter}, nil
+				return reconcile.Result{Requeue: true, RequeueAfter: requeueErr.GetRequeueAfter()}, nil
 			}
 
 			klog.Errorf(`Error updating machine "%s/%s": %v`, m.Namespace, name, err)
@@ -221,9 +222,9 @@ func (r *ReconcileMachine) Reconcile(request reconcile.Request) (reconcile.Resul
 	// Machine resource created. Machine does not yet exist.
 	klog.Infof("Reconciling machine object %v triggers idempotent create.", m.ObjectMeta.Name)
 	if err := r.actuator.Create(ctx, cluster, m); err != nil {
-		if requeueErr, ok := err.(*controllerError.RequeueAfterError); ok {
+		if requeueErr, ok := errors.Cause(err).(controllerError.HasRequeueAfterError); ok {
 			klog.Infof("Actuator returned requeue-after error: %v", requeueErr)
-			return reconcile.Result{Requeue: true, RequeueAfter: requeueErr.RequeueAfter}, nil
+			return reconcile.Result{Requeue: true, RequeueAfter: requeueErr.GetRequeueAfter()}, nil
 		}
 
 		klog.Warningf("Failed to create machine %q: %v", name, err)