diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index da969b50d..66d7e1477 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ aliases:
 * BUGFIX: [vmalertmanager](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/operator/resources/vmalertmanager/): fixed ignored alertmanager template if it has no discovered VMAlertmanagerconfig CRs or tracing config defined. See [#2121](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/operator/issues/2121).
 * BUGFIX: [VMCluster](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/operator/resources/vmcluster/), [VTCluster](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/operator/resources/vtcluster/) and [VLCluster](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/operator/resources/vlcluster/): fixed infinite non-default additional service recreation, when requestsLoadBalancer.enabled: true
 * BUGFIX: [vmauth](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/operator/resources/vmauth/): fixed case, when target_path_suffix can be appended multiple times.
+* BUGFIX: [vmoperator](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/operator/): retry reconcile errors, that may lead to expanding state, before resource could hang in expanding state.
 
 ## [v0.69.0](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/operator/releases/tag/v0.69.0)
 **Release date:** 22 April 2026
diff --git a/internal/controller/operator/controllers.go b/internal/controller/operator/controllers.go
index 5b1871bc8..14afc7933 100644
--- a/internal/controller/operator/controllers.go
+++ b/internal/controller/operator/controllers.go
@@ -345,8 +345,8 @@ func reconcileAndTrackStatus[T client.Object, ST reconcile.StatusWithMetadata[ST
 			resultStatus = vmv1beta1.UpdateStatusExpanding
 		} else {
 			resultStatus = vmv1beta1.UpdateStatusFailed
-			resultErr = err
 		}
+		resultErr = err
 		return
 	}
 	if specChanged {
diff --git a/internal/controller/operator/reconcile_and_track_status_test.go b/internal/controller/operator/reconcile_and_track_status_test.go
index e300fc0ec..7d02dbade 100644
--- a/internal/controller/operator/reconcile_and_track_status_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/operator/reconcile_and_track_status_test.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func TestReconcileAndTrackStatus(t *testing.T) {
 		wantStatus: vmv1beta1.UpdateStatusOperational,
 	})
 
-	// retryable conflict error, operational → expanding
+	// retryable conflict error, operational → expanding, error propagated for requeue
 	opSpec := vmv1beta1.VMAlertSpec{SelectAllByDefault: true}
 	f(opts{
 		object: &vmv1beta1.VMAlert{
@@ -89,9 +89,10 @@ func TestReconcileAndTrackStatus(t *testing.T) {
 			return ctrl.Result{}, k8serrors.NewConflict(schema.GroupResource{Group: "apps", Resource: "deployments"}, "test", fmt.Errorf("conflict"))
 		},
 		wantStatus: vmv1beta1.UpdateStatusExpanding,
+		wantErr:    true,
 	})
 
-	// retryable wait interrupted, operational → expanding
+	// retryable wait interrupted, operational → expanding, error propagated for requeue
 	f(opts{
 		object: &vmv1beta1.VMAlert{
 			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "test-vmalert", Namespace: "default"},
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ func TestReconcileAndTrackStatus(t *testing.T) {
 			return ctrl.Result{}, wait.ErrorInterrupted(fmt.Errorf("timeout"))
 		},
 		wantStatus: vmv1beta1.UpdateStatusExpanding,
+		wantErr:    true,
 	})
 
 	// operational → expanding → operational
@@ -237,7 +239,7 @@ func TestVMClusterRemainsExpandingDuringPVCResize(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := reconcileAndTrackStatus(context.Background(), fclient, cluster, func() (ctrl.Result, error) {
 		return ctrl.Result{}, wait.ErrorInterrupted(fmt.Errorf("pvc resize still in progress"))
 	})
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
 
 	got := &vmv1beta1.VMCluster{}
 	assert.NoError(t, fclient.Get(context.Background(), types.NamespacedName{Name: "test-vmcluster", Namespace: "default"}, got))