diff --git a/controllers/tf_controller_drift_detect.go b/controllers/tf_controller_drift_detect.go
index 0fd64dfc..4e38cf8d 100644
--- a/controllers/tf_controller_drift_detect.go
+++ b/controllers/tf_controller_drift_detect.go
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ func (r *TerraformReconciler) shouldDetectDrift(terraform infrav1.Terraform, rev
 		return false
 	}
 
+	if terraform.Spec.ApprovePlan == infrav1.ApprovePlanDisableValue {
+		return true
+	}
+
 	// new object
 	if terraform.Status.LastAppliedRevision == "" &&
 		terraform.Status.LastPlannedRevision == "" &&
@@ -33,10 +37,6 @@ func (r *TerraformReconciler) shouldDetectDrift(terraform infrav1.Terraform, rev
 		return false
 	}
 
-	if terraform.Spec.ApprovePlan == infrav1.ApprovePlanDisableValue {
-		return true
-	}
-
 	// thing worked normally, no change pending
 	// then, we do drift detection
 	if terraform.Status.LastAttemptedRevision == terraform.Status.LastAppliedRevision &&