diff --git a/internal/controller/workloadmonitor_controller.go b/internal/controller/workloadmonitor_controller.go
index 0cd3103e..9a967e65 100644
--- a/internal/controller/workloadmonitor_controller.go
+++ b/internal/controller/workloadmonitor_controller.go
@@ -388,9 +388,11 @@ func (r *WorkloadMonitorReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Requ
 		fresh.Status.ObservedReplicas = observedReplicas
 		fresh.Status.AvailableReplicas = availableReplicas
 
-		// Default to operational = true, but check MinReplicas if set
+		// Default to operational = true, but check MinReplicas if set.
+		// Use fresh.Spec to avoid making decisions based on a stale cached copy
+		// when the spec was updated between the initial read and this retry.
 		fresh.Status.Operational = pointer.Bool(true)
-		if monitor.Spec.MinReplicas != nil && availableReplicas < *monitor.Spec.MinReplicas {
+		if fresh.Spec.MinReplicas != nil && availableReplicas < *fresh.Spec.MinReplicas {
 			fresh.Status.Operational = pointer.Bool(false)
 		}
 		return r.Status().Update(ctx, fresh)