diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ed0a7a2c3d..7f744bb14a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pre-commit: all verify test
 build: hypershift-operator control-plane-operator control-plane-pki-operator hypershift product-cli
 
 .PHONY: update
-update: deps api api-docs app-sre-saas-template clients
+update: api-deps api api-docs deps clients app-sre-saas-template
 
 .PHONY: verify
 verify: update staticcheck fmt vet promtool
@@ -202,6 +202,9 @@ deps:
 	$(GO) mod verify
 	$(GO) list -m -mod=readonly -json all > /dev/null
 	(cd hack/tools && $(GO) mod tidy && $(GO) mod vendor && $(GO) mod verify && $(GO) list -m -mod=readonly -json all > /dev/null)
+
+.PHONY: api-deps
+api-deps:
 	cd api && \
 	  $(GO) mod tidy && \
 	  $(GO) mod vendor && \
diff --git a/control-plane-operator/hostedclusterconfigoperator/controllers/nodecount/controller.go b/control-plane-operator/hostedclusterconfigoperator/controllers/nodecount/controller.go
index f9e5a3bcf3..4f8153ddb1 100644
--- a/control-plane-operator/hostedclusterconfigoperator/controllers/nodecount/controller.go
+++ b/control-plane-operator/hostedclusterconfigoperator/controllers/nodecount/controller.go
@@ -53,6 +53,6 @@ func (r *reconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, _ reconcile.Request) (reconc
 
 	cfg := hypershiftv1beta1applyconfigurations.HostedControlPlane(r.hcpName, r.hcpNamespace)
 	cfg.Status = hypershiftv1beta1applyconfigurations.HostedControlPlaneStatus().WithNodeCount(len(nodes.Items))
-	_, err := r.client.HypershiftV1beta1().HostedControlPlanes(r.hcpNamespace).Apply(ctx, cfg, metav1.ApplyOptions{FieldManager: ControllerName})
+	_, err := r.client.HypershiftV1beta1().HostedControlPlanes(r.hcpNamespace).ApplyStatus(ctx, cfg, metav1.ApplyOptions{FieldManager: ControllerName})
 	return reconcile.Result{}, err
 }
diff --git a/control-plane-operator/hostedclusterconfigoperator/controllers/nodecount/setup.go b/control-plane-operator/hostedclusterconfigoperator/controllers/nodecount/setup.go
index dd33d4efd1..488b4ede13 100644
--- a/control-plane-operator/hostedclusterconfigoperator/controllers/nodecount/setup.go
+++ b/control-plane-operator/hostedclusterconfigoperator/controllers/nodecount/setup.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package nodecount
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
 	hypershiftclient "github.com/openshift/hypershift/client/clientset/clientset"
@@ -20,20 +19,16 @@ func Setup(opts *operator.HostedClusterConfigOperatorConfig) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if _, err := ctrl.NewControllerManagedBy(opts.Manager).
+	return ctrl.NewControllerManagedBy(opts.Manager).
 		Named(ControllerName).
 		For(&corev1.Node{}).
 		WithOptions(controller.Options{
 			RateLimiter: workqueue.NewItemExponentialFailureRateLimiter(1*time.Second, 10*time.Second),
-		}).Build(&reconciler{
+		}).Complete(&reconciler{
 		hcpName:            opts.HCPName,
 		hcpNamespace:       opts.Namespace,
 		client:             hypershiftClient,
 		lister:             opts.CPCluster.GetClient(),
 		guestClusterClient: opts.Manager.GetClient(),
-	}); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed setting up with a controller manager %w", err)
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	})
 }