diff --git a/cmd/vcluster/cmd/start.go b/cmd/vcluster/cmd/start.go
index 99ddf8d27..8a4ed7a33 100644
--- a/cmd/vcluster/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/vcluster/cmd/start.go
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func ExecuteStart(ctx context.Context, options *options.VirtualClusterOptions) e
 	// // set global owner for use in owner references
 	err = SetGlobalOwner(
 		ctx,
-		controlPlaneClient,
+		workloadClient,
 		options.MultiNamespaceMode,
 		controlPlaneNamespace,
 		options.TargetNamespace,