diff --git a/workflow/controller/operator.go b/workflow/controller/operator.go
index 4d5b58e10620..fa9f421fc947 100644
--- a/workflow/controller/operator.go
+++ b/workflow/controller/operator.go
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ func newWorkflowOperationCtx(wf *wfv1.Workflow, wfc *WorkflowController) *wfOper
 	woc := wfOperationCtx{
 		wf:      wf.DeepCopyObject().(*wfv1.Workflow),
 		orig:    wf,
+		wfSpec:  &wf.Spec,
 		updated: false,
 		log: log.WithFields(log.Fields{
 			"workflow":  wf.ObjectMeta.Name,
@@ -2683,7 +2684,6 @@ func (woc *wfOperationCtx) loadExecutionSpec() (wfv1.TemplateReferenceHolder, wf
 
 	executionParameters := woc.wf.Spec.Arguments
 
-	woc.wfSpec = &woc.wf.Spec
 	if woc.wf.Spec.WorkflowTemplateRef == nil {
 		tmplRef := &wfv1.WorkflowStep{Template: woc.wfSpec.Entrypoint}
 		return tmplRef, executionParameters, nil