diff --git a/api/v1beta1/topology.go b/api/v1beta1/topology.go
index e36860c02..b5de93b58 100644
--- a/api/v1beta1/topology.go
+++ b/api/v1beta1/topology.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func LinkKuadrantToAuthorino(objs controller.Store) machinery.LinkFunc {
 		To:   AuthorinoKind,
 		Func: func(child machinery.Object) []machinery.Object {
 			return lo.Filter(kuadrants, func(kuadrant machinery.Object, _ int) bool {
-				return kuadrant.GetNamespace() == child.GetNamespace()
+				return kuadrant.GetNamespace() == child.GetNamespace() && child.GetName() == "authorino"
 			})
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/controllers/authorino_task.go b/controllers/authorino_task.go
index 3a92ab60a..ead3ad29f 100644
--- a/controllers/authorino_task.go
+++ b/controllers/authorino_task.go
@@ -2,15 +2,18 @@ package controllers
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"strings"
+
 	v1beta2 "github.com/kuadrant/authorino-operator/api/v1beta1"
-	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/api/v1beta1"
 	"github.com/kuadrant/policy-machinery/controller"
 	"github.com/kuadrant/policy-machinery/machinery"
 	"github.com/samber/lo"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
-	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/dynamic"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
+
+	"github.com/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator/api/v1beta1"
 )
 
 type AuthorinoCrReconciler struct {
@@ -45,15 +48,15 @@ func (r *AuthorinoCrReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, _ []controller.Re
 
 	kobj, err := GetOldestKuadrant(kobjs)
 	if err != nil {
+		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "empty list passed") {
+			logger.Info("kuadrant resource not found, ignoring", "status", "skipping")
+			return
+		}
 		logger.Error(err, "cannot find Kuadrant resource", "status", "error")
-	}
-
-	if kobj.GetDeletionTimestamp() != nil {
-		logger.Info("root kuadrant marked for deletion", "status", "skipping")
 		return
 	}
 
-	aobjs := lo.FilterMap(topology.Objects().Objects().Items(), func(item machinery.Object, _ int) (machinery.Object, bool) {
+	aobjs := lo.FilterMap(topology.Objects().Objects().Children(kobj), func(item machinery.Object, _ int) (machinery.Object, bool) {
 		if item.GroupVersionKind().Kind == v1beta1.AuthorinoKind.Kind {
 			return item, true
 		}
@@ -66,14 +69,14 @@ func (r *AuthorinoCrReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, _ []controller.Re
 	}
 
 	authorino := &v1beta2.Authorino{
-		TypeMeta: v1.TypeMeta{
+		TypeMeta: metav1.TypeMeta{
 			Kind:       "Authorino",
 			APIVersion: "operator.authorino.kuadrant.io/v1beta1",
 		},
-		ObjectMeta: v1.ObjectMeta{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 			Name:      "authorino",
 			Namespace: kobj.Namespace,
-			OwnerReferences: []v1.OwnerReference{
+			OwnerReferences: []metav1.OwnerReference{
 				{
 					APIVersion:         kobj.GroupVersionKind().GroupVersion().String(),
 					Kind:               kobj.GroupVersionKind().Kind,
@@ -105,7 +108,7 @@ func (r *AuthorinoCrReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, _ []controller.Re
 		logger.Error(err, "failed to destruct authorino", "status", "error")
 	}
 	logger.Info("creating authorino resource", "status", "processing")
-	_, err = r.Client.Resource(v1beta1.AuthorinoResource).Namespace(authorino.Namespace).Create(ctx, unstructuredAuthorino, v1.CreateOptions{})
+	_, err = r.Client.Resource(v1beta1.AuthorinoResource).Namespace(authorino.Namespace).Create(ctx, unstructuredAuthorino, metav1.CreateOptions{})
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.IsAlreadyExists(err) {
 			logger.Info("already created authorino resource", "status", "acceptable")
diff --git a/controllers/kuadrant_controller.go b/controllers/kuadrant_controller.go
index b63929306..c7e130571 100644
--- a/controllers/kuadrant_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/kuadrant_controller.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
-	authorinov1beta1 "github.com/kuadrant/authorino-operator/api/v1beta1"
 	limitadorv1alpha1 "github.com/kuadrant/limitador-operator/api/v1alpha1"
 	iopv1alpha1 "istio.io/istio/operator/pkg/apis/istio/v1alpha1"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
@@ -437,6 +436,5 @@ func (r *KuadrantReconciler) SetupWithManager(mgr ctrl.Manager) error {
 	return ctrl.NewControllerManagedBy(mgr).
 		For(&kuadrantv1beta1.Kuadrant{}).
 		Owns(&limitadorv1alpha1.Limitador{}).
-		Owns(&authorinov1beta1.Authorino{}).
 		Complete(r)
 }
diff --git a/controllers/state_of_the_world.go b/controllers/state_of_the_world.go
index e21c4cd81..3a4b2d007 100644
--- a/controllers/state_of_the_world.go
+++ b/controllers/state_of_the_world.go
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ func (e *EventLogger) Log(ctx context.Context, resourceEvents []controller.Resou
 	}
 }
 
+// GetOldestKuadrant returns the oldest kuadrant resource from a list of kuadrant resources that is not marked for deletion.
 func GetOldestKuadrant(kuadrants []*kuadrantv1beta1.Kuadrant) (*kuadrantv1beta1.Kuadrant, error) {
 	if len(kuadrants) == 1 {
 		return kuadrants[0], nil