diff --git a/controllers/workspace/devworkspace_controller.go b/controllers/workspace/devworkspace_controller.go
index 51ab1fb70..51034e081 100644
--- a/controllers/workspace/devworkspace_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/workspace/devworkspace_controller.go
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ func (r *DevWorkspaceReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request
 		}
 
 		patch := []byte(`{"spec":{"started": false}}`)
-		err := r.Client.Patch(context.Background(), workspace, client.RawPatch(types.MergePatchType, patch))
+		err := r.Client.Patch(context.Background(), workspace.DevWorkspace, client.RawPatch(types.MergePatchType, patch))
 		if err != nil {
 			return reconcile.Result{}, err
 		}