diff --git a/pkg/resource/api.go b/pkg/resource/api.go
index 66b87e6a4..f99f8e791 100644
--- a/pkg/resource/api.go
+++ b/pkg/resource/api.go
@@ -67,8 +67,9 @@ func (a *APIPatchingApplicator) WithLogger(l logging.Logger) *APIPatchingApplica
 // not exist, or patched if it does. If the object does exist, it will only be
 // patched if the passed object has the same or an empty resource version.
 func (a *APIPatchingApplicator) Apply(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, ao ...ApplyOption) error { //nolint:gocyclo // the logic here is crucial and deserves to stay in one method
+	log := a.log.WithValues(logging.ForResource(obj))
+
 	if obj.GetName() == "" && obj.GetGenerateName() != "" {
-		log := a.log.WithValues(logging.ForResource(obj))
 		log.Info("creating object")
 		return a.client.Create(ctx, obj)
 	}
@@ -107,7 +108,6 @@ func (a *APIPatchingApplicator) Apply(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, ao
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to diff %s", HumanReadableReference(a.client, obj))
 	}
-	log := a.log.WithValues(logging.ForResource(obj))
 	log.WithValues("diff", string(patchBytes)).Info("patching object")
 
 	return a.client.Patch(ctx, obj, client.RawPatch(patch.Type(), patchBytes))
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func groupResource(c client.Client, o client.Object) (schema.GroupResource, erro
 // This only works with a desired object of type *unstructured.Unstructured.
 //
 // Deprecated: replace with Server Side Apply.
-func AdditiveMergePatchApplyOption(ctx context.Context, current, desired runtime.Object) error {
+func AdditiveMergePatchApplyOption(_ context.Context, current, desired runtime.Object) error {
 	u, ok := desired.(*unstructured.Unstructured)
 	if !ok {
 		return errors.New("desired object is not an unstructured.Unstructured")
@@ -181,8 +181,9 @@ func (a *APIUpdatingApplicator) WithLogger(l logging.Logger) *APIUpdatingApplica
 // Apply changes to the supplied object. The object will be created if it does
 // not exist, or updated if it does.
 func (a *APIUpdatingApplicator) Apply(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, ao ...ApplyOption) error {
+	log := a.log.WithValues(logging.ForResource(obj))
+
 	if obj.GetName() == "" && obj.GetGenerateName() != "" {
-		log := a.log.WithValues(logging.ForResource(obj))
 		log.Info("creating object")
 		return a.client.Create(ctx, obj)
 	}
@@ -209,7 +210,9 @@ func (a *APIUpdatingApplicator) Apply(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, ao
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to diff %s", HumanReadableReference(a.client, obj))
 	}
-	log := a.log.WithValues(logging.ForResource(obj))
+	if len(patchBytes) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
 	log.WithValues("diff", string(patchBytes)).Info("updating object")
 
 	return a.client.Update(ctx, obj)