diff --git a/pkg/controller/certificates/certificate_controller.go b/pkg/controller/certificates/certificate_controller.go
index 4f06e56b91c..b07d2fb5a42 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/certificates/certificate_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/certificates/certificate_controller.go
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ func NewCertificateController(
 	})
 	cc.csrLister = csrInformer.Lister()
 	cc.csrsSynced = csrInformer.Informer().HasSynced
-	cc.handler = handler
 	return cc
 }