diff --git a/tools/cache/controller.go b/tools/cache/controller.go
index f437f286..8a1104bd 100644
--- a/tools/cache/controller.go
+++ b/tools/cache/controller.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package cache
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"os"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -148,9 +147,6 @@ func (c *controller) Run(stopCh <-chan struct{}) {
 	if c.config.WatchErrorHandler != nil {
 		r.watchErrorHandler = c.config.WatchErrorHandler
 	}
-	if s := os.Getenv("ENABLE_CLIENT_GO_WATCH_LIST_ALPHA"); len(s) > 0 {
-		r.UseWatchList = true
-	}
 
 	c.reflectorMutex.Lock()
 	c.reflector = r
diff --git a/tools/cache/reflector.go b/tools/cache/reflector.go
index 2b335c10..400d4015 100644
--- a/tools/cache/reflector.go
+++ b/tools/cache/reflector.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"math/rand"
+	"os"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -239,6 +240,10 @@ func NewReflectorWithOptions(lw ListerWatcher, expectedType interface{}, store S
 		r.expectedGVK = getExpectedGVKFromObject(expectedType)
 	}
 
+	if s := os.Getenv("ENABLE_CLIENT_GO_WATCH_LIST_ALPHA"); len(s) > 0 {
+		r.UseWatchList = true
+	}
+
 	return r
 }