diff --git a/pkg/controller/webhooks/deletionprotection.go b/pkg/controller/webhooks/deletionprotection.go
index 7a181d4a33..66fb3c79c1 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/webhooks/deletionprotection.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/webhooks/deletionprotection.go
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ type DeletionProtectionInfo interface {
 // Anything that either contains an owner reference to a composite or an owner annotation.
 func checkManagedObject(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, c client.Client, cpClient client.Client, l logr.Logger) (compositeInfo, error) {
 
+	if cpClient == nil {
+		cpClient = c
+	}
+
 	ownerKind, ok := obj.GetLabels()[runtime.OwnerKindAnnotation]
 	if !ok || ownerKind == "" {
 		l.Info(runtime.OwnerKindAnnotation + " label not set, skipping evaluation")
@@ -116,6 +120,10 @@ func checkManagedObject(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, c client.Client,
 func checkUnmanagedObject(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, c client.Client, cpClient client.Client, l logr.Logger) (compositeInfo, error) {
 	namespace := &corev1.Namespace{}
 
+	if cpClient == nil {
+		cpClient = c
+	}
+
 	err := cpClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Name: obj.GetNamespace()}, namespace)
 	if err != nil {
 		if apierrors.IsNotFound(err) {