diff --git a/federation/pkg/federation-controller/namespace/namespace_controller.go b/federation/pkg/federation-controller/namespace/namespace_controller.go
index 4aa667b6e0a..bb1c55e356c 100644
--- a/federation/pkg/federation-controller/namespace/namespace_controller.go
+++ b/federation/pkg/federation-controller/namespace/namespace_controller.go
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ func (nc *NamespaceController) reconcileNamespace(namespace string) {
 			return
 		}
 		desiredNamespace := &api_v1.Namespace{
-			ObjectMeta: baseNamespace.ObjectMeta,
+			ObjectMeta: util.CopyObjectMeta(baseNamespace.ObjectMeta),
 			Spec:       baseNamespace.Spec,
 		}
 
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ func (nc *NamespaceController) reconcileNamespace(namespace string) {
 			clusterNamespace := clusterNamespaceObj.(*api_v1.Namespace)
 
 			// Update existing namespace, if needed.
-			if !reflect.DeepEqual(desiredNamespace.ObjectMeta, clusterNamespace.ObjectMeta) ||
+			if !util.ObjectMetaEquivalent(desiredNamespace.ObjectMeta, clusterNamespace.ObjectMeta) ||
 				!reflect.DeepEqual(desiredNamespace.Spec, clusterNamespace.Spec) {
 				operations = append(operations, util.FederatedOperation{
 					Type:        util.OperationTypeUpdate,
diff --git a/federation/pkg/federation-controller/secret/secret_controller.go b/federation/pkg/federation-controller/secret/secret_controller.go
index 1e2a0a851d4..805f7674571 100644
--- a/federation/pkg/federation-controller/secret/secret_controller.go
+++ b/federation/pkg/federation-controller/secret/secret_controller.go
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ func (secretcontroller *SecretController) reconcileSecret(namespace string, secr
 		}
 
 		desiredSecret := &api_v1.Secret{
-			ObjectMeta: baseSecret.ObjectMeta,
+			ObjectMeta: util.CopyObjectMeta(baseSecret.ObjectMeta),
 			Data:       baseSecret.Data,
 			Type:       baseSecret.Type,
 		}
@@ -287,7 +287,9 @@ func (secretcontroller *SecretController) reconcileSecret(namespace string, secr
 			clusterSecret := clusterSecretObj.(*api_v1.Secret)
 
 			// Update existing secret, if needed.
-			if !reflect.DeepEqual(desiredSecret.ObjectMeta, clusterSecret.ObjectMeta) {
+			if !util.ObjectMetaEquivalent(desiredSecret.ObjectMeta, clusterSecret.ObjectMeta) ||
+				!reflect.DeepEqual(desiredSecret.Data, clusterSecret.Data) ||
+				!reflect.DeepEqual(desiredSecret.Type, clusterSecret.Type) {
 				operations = append(operations, util.FederatedOperation{
 					Type:        util.OperationTypeUpdate,
 					Obj:         desiredSecret,