diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 31a91754..ece4cd98 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 - BREAKING: The fields `connection` and `host` on `S3Connection` as well as `bucketName` on `S3Bucket`are now mandatory ([#472]).
 - Fix `envOverrides` for SparkApplication and SparkHistoryServer ([#451]).
 - Ensure SparkApplications can only create a single submit Job. Fix for #457 ([#460]).
+- Invalid `SparkApplication`/`SparkHistoryServer`  objects don't cause the operator to stop functioning (#[482]).
 
 ### Removed
 
diff --git a/rust/operator-binary/src/history/history_controller.rs b/rust/operator-binary/src/history/history_controller.rs
index d024590f..12b0a8d7 100644
--- a/rust/operator-binary/src/history/history_controller.rs
+++ b/rust/operator-binary/src/history/history_controller.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use crate::history::operations::pdb::add_pdbs;
 use crate::product_logging::{self, resolve_vector_aggregator_address};
 use crate::Ctx;
 use product_config::{types::PropertyNameKind, writer::to_java_properties_string};
+use stackable_operator::kube::core::{error_boundary, DeserializeGuard};
 use stackable_operator::{
     builder::{
         self,
@@ -196,6 +197,11 @@ pub enum Error {
     AddVolumeMount {
         source: builder::pod::container::Error,
     },
+
+    #[snafu(display("SparkHistoryServer object is invalid"))]
+    InvalidSparkHistoryServer {
+        source: error_boundary::InvalidObject,
+    },
 }
 
 type Result<T, E = Error> = std::result::Result<T, E>;
@@ -206,9 +212,18 @@ impl ReconcilerError for Error {
     }
 }
 /// Updates the status of the SparkApplication that started the pod.
-pub async fn reconcile(shs: Arc<SparkHistoryServer>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Result<Action> {
+pub async fn reconcile(
+    shs: Arc<DeserializeGuard<SparkHistoryServer>>,
+    ctx: Arc<Ctx>,
+) -> Result<Action> {
     tracing::info!("Starting reconcile history server");
 
+    let shs = shs
+        .0
+        .as_ref()
+        .map_err(error_boundary::InvalidObject::clone)
+        .context(InvalidSparkHistoryServerSnafu)?;
+
     let client = &ctx.client;
 
     let mut cluster_resources = ClusterResources::new(
@@ -244,7 +259,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(shs: Arc<SparkHistoryServer>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Result<Ac
 
     // Use a dedicated service account for history server pods.
     let (serviceaccount, rolebinding) =
-        build_history_role_serviceaccount(&shs, &resolved_product_image.app_version_label)?;
+        build_history_role_serviceaccount(shs, &resolved_product_image.app_version_label)?;
     let serviceaccount = cluster_resources
         .add(client, serviceaccount)
         .await
@@ -261,7 +276,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(shs: Arc<SparkHistoryServer>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Result<Ac
         .iter()
     {
         let service = build_service(
-            &shs,
+            shs,
             &resolved_product_image.app_version_label,
             role_name,
             None,
@@ -273,7 +288,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(shs: Arc<SparkHistoryServer>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Result<Ac
 
         for (rolegroup_name, rolegroup_config) in role_config.iter() {
             let rgr = RoleGroupRef {
-                cluster: ObjectRef::from_obj(&*shs),
+                cluster: ObjectRef::from_obj(shs),
                 role: role_name.into(),
                 role_group: rolegroup_name.into(),
             };
@@ -283,7 +298,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(shs: Arc<SparkHistoryServer>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Result<Ac
                 .context(FailedToResolveConfigSnafu)?;
 
             let service = build_service(
-                &shs,
+                shs,
                 &resolved_product_image.app_version_label,
                 role_name,
                 Some(&rgr),
@@ -294,7 +309,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(shs: Arc<SparkHistoryServer>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Result<Ac
                 .context(ApplyServiceSnafu)?;
 
             let config_map = build_config_map(
-                &shs,
+                shs,
                 rolegroup_config,
                 &merged_config,
                 &resolved_product_image.app_version_label,
@@ -308,7 +323,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(shs: Arc<SparkHistoryServer>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Result<Ac
                 .context(ApplyConfigMapSnafu)?;
 
             let sts = build_stateful_set(
-                &shs,
+                shs,
                 &resolved_product_image,
                 &rgr,
                 &log_dir,
@@ -324,7 +339,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(shs: Arc<SparkHistoryServer>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Result<Ac
         let role_config = &shs.spec.nodes.role_config;
         add_pdbs(
             &role_config.pod_disruption_budget,
-            &shs,
+            shs,
             client,
             &mut cluster_resources,
         )
@@ -340,8 +355,15 @@ pub async fn reconcile(shs: Arc<SparkHistoryServer>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Result<Ac
     Ok(Action::await_change())
 }
 
-pub fn error_policy(_obj: Arc<SparkHistoryServer>, _error: &Error, _ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Action {
-    Action::requeue(*Duration::from_secs(5))
+pub fn error_policy(
+    _obj: Arc<DeserializeGuard<SparkHistoryServer>>,
+    error: &Error,
+    _ctx: Arc<Ctx>,
+) -> Action {
+    match error {
+        Error::InvalidSparkHistoryServer { .. } => Action::await_change(),
+        _ => Action::requeue(*Duration::from_secs(5)),
+    }
 }
 
 #[allow(clippy::result_large_err)]
diff --git a/rust/operator-binary/src/main.rs b/rust/operator-binary/src/main.rs
index c8d61a7f..fb9abb42 100644
--- a/rust/operator-binary/src/main.rs
+++ b/rust/operator-binary/src/main.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use stackable_operator::cli::{Command, ProductOperatorRun};
 use stackable_operator::k8s_openapi::api::apps::v1::StatefulSet;
 use stackable_operator::k8s_openapi::api::core::v1::Pod;
 use stackable_operator::k8s_openapi::api::core::v1::{ConfigMap, Service};
+use stackable_operator::kube::core::DeserializeGuard;
 use stackable_operator::kube::runtime::{controller::Controller, watcher};
 use stackable_operator::logging::controller::report_controller_reconciled;
 use stackable_operator::CustomResourceExt;
@@ -79,11 +80,11 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 product_config: product_config.load(&PRODUCT_CONFIG_PATHS)?,
             };
             let app_controller = Controller::new(
-                watch_namespace.get_api::<SparkApplication>(&client),
+                watch_namespace.get_api::<DeserializeGuard<SparkApplication>>(&client),
                 watcher::Config::default(),
             )
             .owns(
-                watch_namespace.get_api::<ConfigMap>(&client),
+                watch_namespace.get_api::<DeserializeGuard<ConfigMap>>(&client),
                 watcher::Config::default(),
             )
             .shutdown_on_signal()
@@ -102,12 +103,12 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
             .instrument(info_span!("app_controller"));
 
             let pod_driver_controller = Controller::new(
-                watch_namespace.get_api::<Pod>(&client),
+                watch_namespace.get_api::<DeserializeGuard<Pod>>(&client),
                 watcher::Config::default()
                     .labels(&format!("app.kubernetes.io/managed-by={OPERATOR_NAME}_{CONTROLLER_NAME},spark-role=driver")),
             )
             .owns(
-                watch_namespace.get_api::<Pod>(&client),
+                watch_namespace.get_api::<DeserializeGuard<Pod>>(&client),
                 watcher::Config::default(),
             )
             .shutdown_on_signal()
@@ -125,23 +126,23 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 product_config: product_config.load(&PRODUCT_CONFIG_PATHS)?,
             };
             let history_controller = Controller::new(
-                watch_namespace.get_api::<SparkHistoryServer>(&client),
+                watch_namespace.get_api::<DeserializeGuard<SparkHistoryServer>>(&client),
                 watcher::Config::default(),
             )
             .owns(
-                watch_namespace.get_api::<SparkHistoryServer>(&client),
+                watch_namespace.get_api::<DeserializeGuard<SparkHistoryServer>>(&client),
                 watcher::Config::default(),
             )
             .owns(
-                watch_namespace.get_api::<StatefulSet>(&client),
+                watch_namespace.get_api::<DeserializeGuard<StatefulSet>>(&client),
                 watcher::Config::default(),
             )
             .owns(
-                watch_namespace.get_api::<Service>(&client),
+                watch_namespace.get_api::<DeserializeGuard<Service>>(&client),
                 watcher::Config::default(),
             )
             .owns(
-                watch_namespace.get_api::<ConfigMap>(&client),
+                watch_namespace.get_api::<DeserializeGuard<ConfigMap>>(&client),
                 watcher::Config::default(),
             )
             .shutdown_on_signal()
diff --git a/rust/operator-binary/src/pod_driver_controller.rs b/rust/operator-binary/src/pod_driver_controller.rs
index 435f079d..f75d5225 100644
--- a/rust/operator-binary/src/pod_driver_controller.rs
+++ b/rust/operator-binary/src/pod_driver_controller.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 use stackable_operator::{
-    client::Client, k8s_openapi::api::core::v1::Pod, kube::runtime::controller::Action,
+    client::Client,
+    k8s_openapi::api::core::v1::Pod,
+    kube::core::{error_boundary, DeserializeGuard},
+    kube::runtime::controller::Action,
     time::Duration,
 };
 use stackable_spark_k8s_crd::{
@@ -35,6 +38,10 @@ pub enum Error {
         source: stackable_operator::client::Error,
         name: String,
     },
+    #[snafu(display("Pod object is invalid"))]
+    InvalidPod {
+        source: error_boundary::InvalidObject,
+    },
 }
 
 type Result<T, E = Error> = std::result::Result<T, E>;
@@ -45,9 +52,15 @@ impl ReconcilerError for Error {
     }
 }
 /// Updates the status of the SparkApplication that started the pod.
-pub async fn reconcile(pod: Arc<Pod>, client: Arc<Client>) -> Result<Action> {
+pub async fn reconcile(pod: Arc<DeserializeGuard<Pod>>, client: Arc<Client>) -> Result<Action> {
     tracing::info!("Starting reconcile driver pod");
 
+    let pod = pod
+        .0
+        .as_ref()
+        .map_err(error_boundary::InvalidObject::clone)
+        .context(InvalidPodSnafu)?;
+
     let pod_name = pod.metadata.name.as_ref().context(PodNameNotFoundSnafu)?;
     let app_name = pod
         .metadata
@@ -94,6 +107,9 @@ pub async fn reconcile(pod: Arc<Pod>, client: Arc<Client>) -> Result<Action> {
     Ok(Action::await_change())
 }
 
-pub fn error_policy(_obj: Arc<Pod>, _error: &Error, _ctx: Arc<Client>) -> Action {
-    Action::requeue(*Duration::from_secs(5))
+pub fn error_policy(_obj: Arc<DeserializeGuard<Pod>>, error: &Error, _ctx: Arc<Client>) -> Action {
+    match error {
+        Error::InvalidPod { .. } => Action::await_change(),
+        _ => Action::requeue(*Duration::from_secs(5)),
+    }
 }
diff --git a/rust/operator-binary/src/spark_k8s_controller.rs b/rust/operator-binary/src/spark_k8s_controller.rs
index 1866ca47..72dff776 100644
--- a/rust/operator-binary/src/spark_k8s_controller.rs
+++ b/rust/operator-binary/src/spark_k8s_controller.rs
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ use stackable_operator::{
         Resource,
     },
     kube::{
+        core::{error_boundary, DeserializeGuard},
         runtime::{controller::Action, reflector::ObjectRef},
         ResourceExt,
     },
@@ -194,6 +195,11 @@ pub enum Error {
     AddVolumeMount {
         source: builder::pod::container::Error,
     },
+
+    #[snafu(display("SparkApplication object is invalid"))]
+    InvalidSparkApplication {
+        source: error_boundary::InvalidObject,
+    },
 }
 
 type Result<T, E = Error> = std::result::Result<T, E>;
@@ -204,9 +210,18 @@ impl ReconcilerError for Error {
     }
 }
 
-pub async fn reconcile(spark_application: Arc<SparkApplication>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Result<Action> {
+pub async fn reconcile(
+    spark_application: Arc<DeserializeGuard<SparkApplication>>,
+    ctx: Arc<Ctx>,
+) -> Result<Action> {
     tracing::info!("Starting reconcile");
 
+    let spark_application = spark_application
+        .0
+        .as_ref()
+        .map_err(error_boundary::InvalidObject::clone)
+        .context(InvalidSparkApplicationSnafu)?;
+
     let client = &ctx.client;
 
     if spark_application.k8s_job_has_been_created() {
@@ -269,7 +284,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(spark_application: Arc<SparkApplication>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>)
         .context(InvalidProductConfigSnafu)?;
 
     let (serviceaccount, rolebinding) =
-        build_spark_role_serviceaccount(&spark_application, &resolved_product_image)?;
+        build_spark_role_serviceaccount(spark_application, &resolved_product_image)?;
     client
         .apply_patch(CONTROLLER_NAME, &serviceaccount, &serviceaccount)
         .await
@@ -305,7 +320,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(spark_application: Arc<SparkApplication>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>)
             .and_then(|r| r.get(&"default".to_string()));
 
     let driver_pod_template_config_map = pod_template_config_map(
-        &spark_application,
+        spark_application,
         SparkApplicationRole::Driver,
         &driver_config,
         driver_product_config,
@@ -334,7 +349,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(spark_application: Arc<SparkApplication>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>)
             .and_then(|r| r.get(&"default".to_string()));
 
     let executor_pod_template_config_map = pod_template_config_map(
-        &spark_application,
+        spark_application,
         SparkApplicationRole::Executor,
         &executor_config,
         executor_product_config,
@@ -372,7 +387,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(spark_application: Arc<SparkApplication>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>)
             .and_then(|r| r.get(&"default".to_string()));
 
     let submit_job_config_map = submit_job_config_map(
-        &spark_application,
+        spark_application,
         submit_product_config,
         &resolved_product_image,
     )?;
@@ -386,7 +401,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(spark_application: Arc<SparkApplication>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>)
         .context(ApplyApplicationSnafu)?;
 
     let job = spark_job(
-        &spark_application,
+        spark_application,
         &resolved_product_image,
         &serviceaccount,
         &env_vars,
@@ -406,7 +421,7 @@ pub async fn reconcile(spark_application: Arc<SparkApplication>, ctx: Arc<Ctx>)
     client
         .apply_patch_status(
             CONTROLLER_NAME,
-            spark_application.as_ref(),
+            spark_application,
             &SparkApplicationStatus {
                 phase: "Unknown".to_string(),
             },
@@ -984,6 +999,13 @@ fn security_context() -> PodSecurityContext {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn error_policy(_obj: Arc<SparkApplication>, _error: &Error, _ctx: Arc<Ctx>) -> Action {
-    Action::requeue(*Duration::from_secs(5))
+pub fn error_policy(
+    _obj: Arc<DeserializeGuard<SparkApplication>>,
+    error: &Error,
+    _ctx: Arc<Ctx>,
+) -> Action {
+    match error {
+        Error::InvalidSparkApplication { .. } => Action::await_change(),
+        _ => Action::requeue(*Duration::from_secs(5)),
+    }
 }