diff --git a/api/v1beta1/imagepolicy_types.go b/api/v1beta1/imagepolicy_types.go
index e09c5e5c..4b811c3f 100644
--- a/api/v1beta1/imagepolicy_types.go
+++ b/api/v1beta1/imagepolicy_types.go
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ type ImagePolicy struct {
 	metav1.TypeMeta   `json:",inline"`
 	metav1.ObjectMeta `json:"metadata,omitempty"`
 
-	Spec   ImagePolicySpec   `json:"spec,omitempty"`
+	Spec ImagePolicySpec `json:"spec,omitempty"`
+	// +kubebuilder:default={"observedGeneration":-1}
 	Status ImagePolicyStatus `json:"status,omitempty"`
 }
 
diff --git a/api/v1beta1/imagerepository_types.go b/api/v1beta1/imagerepository_types.go
index afc904e1..cb0648f8 100644
--- a/api/v1beta1/imagerepository_types.go
+++ b/api/v1beta1/imagerepository_types.go
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ type ImageRepository struct {
 	metav1.TypeMeta   `json:",inline"`
 	metav1.ObjectMeta `json:"metadata,omitempty"`
 
-	Spec   ImageRepositorySpec   `json:"spec,omitempty"`
+	Spec ImageRepositorySpec `json:"spec,omitempty"`
+	// +kubebuilder:default={"observedGeneration":-1}
 	Status ImageRepositoryStatus `json:"status,omitempty"`
 }
 
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/image.toolkit.fluxcd.io_imagepolicies.yaml b/config/crd/bases/image.toolkit.fluxcd.io_imagepolicies.yaml
index 0efb411e..c60569aa 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/image.toolkit.fluxcd.io_imagepolicies.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/image.toolkit.fluxcd.io_imagepolicies.yaml
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ spec:
             - policy
             type: object
           status:
+            default:
+              observedGeneration: -1
             description: ImagePolicyStatus defines the observed state of ImagePolicy
             properties:
               conditions:
@@ -144,6 +146,7 @@ spec:
                 description: LatestImage gives the first in the list of images scanned by the image repository, when filtered and ordered according to the policy.
                 type: string
               observedGeneration:
+                description: ObservedGeneration is the last reconciled generation.
                 format: int64
                 type: integer
             type: object
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/image.toolkit.fluxcd.io_imagerepositories.yaml b/config/crd/bases/image.toolkit.fluxcd.io_imagerepositories.yaml
index e36a297c..04431afb 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/image.toolkit.fluxcd.io_imagerepositories.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/image.toolkit.fluxcd.io_imagerepositories.yaml
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ spec:
                 type: string
             type: object
           status:
+            default:
+              observedGeneration: -1
             description: ImageRepositoryStatus defines the observed state of ImageRepository
             properties:
               canonicalImageName: