diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/AnnotationControllerConfiguration.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/AnnotationControllerConfiguration.java
index fa2b5c1927..913b727eaa 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/AnnotationControllerConfiguration.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/AnnotationControllerConfiguration.java
@@ -242,13 +242,17 @@ public List<DependentResourceSpec> getDependentResources() {
           throw new IllegalArgumentException(
               "A DependentResource named '" + name + "' already exists: " + spec);
         }
+
+        var eventSourceName = dependent.useEventSourceWithName();
+        eventSourceName = Constants.NO_VALUE_SET.equals(eventSourceName) ? null : eventSourceName;
+
         final var context = "DependentResource of type '" + dependentType.getName() + "'";
         spec = new DependentResourceSpec(dependentType, config, name,
             Set.of(dependent.dependsOn()),
             instantiateIfNotDefault(dependent.readyPostcondition(), Condition.class, context),
             instantiateIfNotDefault(dependent.reconcilePrecondition(), Condition.class, context),
             instantiateIfNotDefault(dependent.deletePostcondition(), Condition.class, context),
-            dependent.provideEventSource());
+            eventSourceName);
         specsMap.put(name, spec);
       }
 
@@ -287,7 +291,6 @@ private Object createKubernetesResourceConfig(Class<? extends DependentResource>
     OnDeleteFilter<? extends HasMetadata> onDeleteFilter = null;
     GenericFilter<? extends HasMetadata> genericFilter = null;
     ResourceDiscriminator<?, ? extends HasMetadata> resourceDiscriminator = null;
-    String eventSourceNameToUse = null;
     if (kubeDependent != null) {
       if (!Arrays.equals(KubernetesDependent.DEFAULT_NAMESPACES,
           kubeDependent.namespaces())) {
@@ -314,14 +317,12 @@ private Object createKubernetesResourceConfig(Class<? extends DependentResource>
       resourceDiscriminator =
           instantiateIfNotDefault(kubeDependent.resourceDiscriminator(),
               ResourceDiscriminator.class, context);
-      eventSourceNameToUse = Constants.NO_VALUE_SET.equals(kubeDependent.eventSourceToUse()) ? null
-          : kubeDependent.eventSourceToUse();
     }
 
     config =
         new KubernetesDependentResourceConfig(namespaces, labelSelector, configuredNS,
             resourceDiscriminator, onAddFilter,
-            onUpdateFilter, onDeleteFilter, genericFilter, eventSourceNameToUse);
+            onUpdateFilter, onDeleteFilter, genericFilter);
 
     return config;
   }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverrider.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverrider.java
index ee153c879a..511596db00 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverrider.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverrider.java
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ private void replaceConfig(String name, Object newConfig, DependentResourceSpec<
     namedDependentResourceSpecs.put(name,
         new DependentResourceSpec<>(current.getDependentResourceClass(), newConfig, name,
             current.getDependsOn(), current.getReadyCondition(), current.getReconcileCondition(),
-            current.getDeletePostCondition(), current.provideEventSource()));
+            current.getDeletePostCondition(), current.getUseEventSourceWithName().orElse(null)));
   }
 
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -220,7 +220,8 @@ public ControllerConfiguration<R> build() {
       KubernetesDependentResourceConfig c) {
     return new DependentResourceSpec(spec.getDependentResourceClass(),
         c.setNamespaces(namespaces), name, spec.getDependsOn(), spec.getReadyCondition(),
-        spec.getReconcileCondition(), spec.getDeletePostCondition(), spec.provideEventSource());
+        spec.getReconcileCondition(), spec.getDeletePostCondition(),
+        (String) spec.getUseEventSourceWithName().orElse(null));
   }
 
   public static <R extends HasMetadata> ControllerConfigurationOverrider<R> override(
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/dependent/DependentResourceSpec.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/dependent/DependentResourceSpec.java
index 71476cc2d3..426c1d3325 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/dependent/DependentResourceSpec.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/dependent/DependentResourceSpec.java
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@ public class DependentResourceSpec<T extends DependentResource<?, ?>, C> {
 
   private final Condition<?, ?> deletePostCondition;
 
-  private final boolean provideEventSource;
+  private final String useEventSourceWithName;
 
   public DependentResourceSpec(Class<T> dependentResourceClass, C dependentResourceConfig,
       String name, Set<String> dependsOn, Condition<?, ?> readyCondition,
       Condition<?, ?> reconcileCondition, Condition<?, ?> deletePostCondition,
-      boolean provideEventSource) {
+      String useEventSourceWithName) {
     this.dependentResourceClass = dependentResourceClass;
     this.dependentResourceConfig = dependentResourceConfig;
     this.name = name;
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public DependentResourceSpec(Class<T> dependentResourceClass, C dependentResourc
     this.readyCondition = readyCondition;
     this.reconcileCondition = reconcileCondition;
     this.deletePostCondition = deletePostCondition;
-    this.provideEventSource = provideEventSource;
+    this.useEventSourceWithName = useEventSourceWithName;
   }
 
   public Class<T> getDependentResourceClass() {
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public Condition getDeletePostCondition() {
     return deletePostCondition;
   }
 
-  public boolean provideEventSource() {
-    return provideEventSource;
+  public Optional<String> getUseEventSourceWithName() {
+    return Optional.ofNullable(useEventSourceWithName);
   }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/Dependent.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/Dependent.java
index 00d2ad1882..1a52cbcfc3 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/Dependent.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/Dependent.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent;
 
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Constants;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.workflow.Condition;
 
 import static io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Constants.NO_VALUE_SET;
@@ -59,11 +60,11 @@
   String[] dependsOn() default {};
 
   /**
-   * Setting this to false means that the event source provided by the dependent resource won't be
-   * used. This is helpful if more dependent resources created for the same type, and want to share
-   * a common event source. In that case an event source needs to be explicitly registered.
+   * Setting here a name of the event source means that dependent resource will use an event source
+   * registered with that name. So won't create one. This is helpful if more dependent resources
+   * created for the same type, and want to share a common event source.
    *
-   * @return if the event source (if any) provided by the dependent resource should be used or not.
+   * @return event source name (if any) provided by the dependent resource should be used.
    */
-  boolean provideEventSource() default true;
+  String useEventSourceWithName() default NO_VALUE_SET;
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResource.java
index d098137b46..ea7759b8c4 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResource.java
@@ -49,13 +49,6 @@ default Optional<ResourceEventSource<R, P>> eventSource(
     return Optional.empty();
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Calling this method, instructs the implementation to not provide an event source, even if it
-   * normally does.
-   */
-  void doNotProvideEventSource();
-
-
   default Optional<R> getSecondaryResource(P primary, Context<P> context) {
     return Optional.empty();
   }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/EventSourceAware.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/EventSourceAware.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 09b13d90c5..0000000000
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/EventSourceAware.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent;
-
-import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.EventSourceRetriever;
-
-public interface EventSourceAware<P extends HasMetadata> {
-
-  void selectEventSources(EventSourceRetriever<P> eventSourceRetriever);
-
-}
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/EventSourceNotFoundException.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/EventSourceNotFoundException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..26681e2ca6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/EventSourceNotFoundException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent;
+
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.OperatorException;
+
+public class EventSourceNotFoundException extends OperatorException {
+
+  private String eventSourceName;
+
+  public EventSourceNotFoundException(String eventSourceName) {
+    this.eventSourceName = eventSourceName;
+  }
+
+  public String getEventSourceName() {
+    return eventSourceName;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/EventSourceReferencer.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/EventSourceReferencer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13ac93e2bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/EventSourceReferencer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent;
+
+import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.EventSourceRetriever;
+
+public interface EventSourceReferencer<P extends HasMetadata> {
+
+  default void useEventSourceWithName(String name) {}
+
+  /**
+   * Throws {@link EventSourceNotFoundException} an exception if the target event source to use is
+   * not found.
+   */
+  void resolveEventSource(EventSourceRetriever<P> eventSourceRetriever)
+      throws EventSourceNotFoundException;
+
+}
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/Controller.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/Controller.java
index 57ce0a3a5e..53bce9bace 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/Controller.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/Controller.java
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing;
 
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -32,8 +35,9 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Ignore;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Reconciler;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.UpdateControl;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceAware;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceNotFoundException;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceProvider;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceReferencer;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.managed.DefaultManagedDependentResourceContext;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.workflow.ManagedWorkflow;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.workflow.WorkflowCleanupResult;
@@ -214,25 +218,40 @@ public void initAndRegisterEventSources(EventSourceContext<P> context) {
       final var ownSources = provider.prepareEventSources(context);
       ownSources.forEach(eventSourceManager::registerEventSource);
     }
-    managedWorkflow
-        .getDependentResourcesByName().entrySet().stream()
-        .forEach(drEntry -> {
-          if (drEntry.getValue() instanceof EventSourceProvider) {
-            final var provider = (EventSourceProvider) drEntry.getValue();
-            final var source = provider.initEventSource(context);
-            eventSourceManager.registerEventSource(drEntry.getKey(), source);
-          } else {
-            Optional<ResourceEventSource> eventSource =
-                drEntry.getValue().eventSource(context);
-            eventSource.ifPresent(es -> {
-              eventSourceManager.registerEventSource(drEntry.getKey(), es);
-            });
-          }
-        });
-    managedWorkflow.getDependentResourcesByName().entrySet().stream().map(Map.Entry::getValue)
-        .filter(EventSourceAware.class::isInstance)
-        .forEach(dr -> ((EventSourceAware) dr)
-            .selectEventSources(eventSourceManager));
+
+    // register created event sources
+    final var dependentResourcesByName = managedWorkflow.getDependentResourcesByName();
+    final var size = dependentResourcesByName.size();
+    if (size > 0) {
+      dependentResourcesByName.forEach((key, value) -> {
+        if (value instanceof EventSourceProvider) {
+          final var provider = (EventSourceProvider) value;
+          final var source = provider.initEventSource(context);
+          eventSourceManager.registerEventSource(key, source);
+        } else {
+          Optional<ResourceEventSource> eventSource = value.eventSource(context);
+          eventSource.ifPresent(es -> eventSourceManager.registerEventSource(key, es));
+        }
+      });
+
+      // resolve event sources referenced by name for dependents that reuse an existing event source
+      final Map<String, List<EventSourceReferencer>> unresolvable = new HashMap<>(size);
+      dependentResourcesByName.values().stream()
+          .filter(EventSourceReferencer.class::isInstance)
+          .map(EventSourceReferencer.class::cast)
+          .forEach(dr -> {
+            try {
+              ((EventSourceReferencer<P>) dr)
+                  .resolveEventSource(eventSourceManager);
+            } catch (EventSourceNotFoundException e) {
+              unresolvable.computeIfAbsent(e.getEventSourceName(), s -> new ArrayList<>()).add(dr);
+            }
+          });
+      if (!unresolvable.isEmpty()) {
+        throw new IllegalStateException(
+            "Couldn't resolve referenced EventSources: " + unresolvable);
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractDependentResource.java
index fe7717e846..63e522ad7d 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractDependentResource.java
@@ -9,13 +9,11 @@
 
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceContext;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Ignore;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ResourceDiscriminator;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.DependentResource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.ReconcileResult;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.ResourceID;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.ResourceEventSource;
 
 @Ignore
 public abstract class AbstractDependentResource<R, P extends HasMetadata>
@@ -29,7 +27,6 @@ public abstract class AbstractDependentResource<R, P extends HasMetadata>
   protected Creator<R, P> creator;
   protected Updater<R, P> updater;
   protected BulkDependentResource<R, P> bulkDependentResource;
-  private boolean returnEventSource = true;
 
   protected List<ResourceDiscriminator<R, P>> resourceDiscriminator = new ArrayList<>(1);
 
@@ -41,23 +38,6 @@ public AbstractDependentResource() {
     bulkDependentResource = bulk ? (BulkDependentResource<R, P>) this : null;
   }
 
-  @Override
-  public void doNotProvideEventSource() {
-    this.returnEventSource = false;
-  }
-
-  @Override
-  public Optional<ResourceEventSource<R, P>> eventSource(EventSourceContext<P> eventSourceContext) {
-    if (!returnEventSource) {
-      return Optional.empty();
-    } else {
-      return Optional.of(provideEventSource(eventSourceContext));
-    }
-  }
-
-  protected abstract ResourceEventSource<R, P> provideEventSource(
-      EventSourceContext<P> eventSourceContext);
-
   @Override
   public ReconcileResult<R> reconcile(P primary, Context<P> context) {
     if (bulk) {
@@ -239,7 +219,4 @@ protected int lastKnownBulkSize() {
     return resourceDiscriminator.size();
   }
 
-  protected boolean getReturnEventSource() {
-    return returnEventSource;
-  }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractEventSourceHolderDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractEventSourceHolderDependentResource.java
index a90017897a..f514a00950 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractEventSourceHolderDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractEventSourceHolderDependentResource.java
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceContext;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Ignore;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceAware;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceNotFoundException;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceReferencer;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.RecentOperationCacheFiller;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.EventSourceRetriever;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.ResourceID;
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@
 
 @Ignore
 public abstract class AbstractEventSourceHolderDependentResource<R, P extends HasMetadata, T extends ResourceEventSource<R, P>>
-    extends AbstractDependentResource<R, P> implements EventSourceAware<P> {
+    extends AbstractDependentResource<R, P> implements EventSourceReferencer<P> {
 
   private T eventSource;
   private final Class<R> resourceType;
@@ -26,45 +27,50 @@ public abstract class AbstractEventSourceHolderDependentResource<R, P extends Ha
   protected OnUpdateFilter<R> onUpdateFilter;
   protected OnDeleteFilter<R> onDeleteFilter;
   protected GenericFilter<R> genericFilter;
-  protected String eventSourceToUse;
+  protected String eventSourceNameToUse;
 
   protected AbstractEventSourceHolderDependentResource(Class<R> resourceType) {
     this.resourceType = resourceType;
   }
 
-
-  public ResourceEventSource<R, P> provideEventSource(EventSourceContext<P> context) {
+  public Optional<ResourceEventSource<R, P>> eventSource(EventSourceContext<P> context) {
     // some sub-classes (e.g. KubernetesDependentResource) can have their event source created
     // before this method is called in the managed case, so only create the event source if it
     // hasn't already been set.
     // The filters are applied automatically only if event source is created automatically. So if an
     // event source
     // is shared between dependent resources this does not override the existing filters.
-    if (eventSource == null) {
+    if (eventSource == null && eventSourceNameToUse == null) {
       setEventSource(createEventSource(context));
       applyFilters();
     }
-    return eventSource;
+    return Optional.ofNullable(eventSource);
   }
 
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
   @Override
-  public void selectEventSources(EventSourceRetriever<P> eventSourceRetriever) {
-    if (!getReturnEventSource()) {
-      if (eventSourceToUse != null) {
-        setEventSource(
-            (T) eventSourceRetriever.getResourceEventSourceFor(resourceType(), eventSourceToUse));
-      } else {
-        setEventSource((T) eventSourceRetriever.getResourceEventSourceFor(resourceType()));
+  public void resolveEventSource(EventSourceRetriever<P> eventSourceRetriever) {
+    if (eventSourceNameToUse != null && eventSource == null) {
+      final var source =
+          eventSourceRetriever.getResourceEventSourceFor(resourceType(), eventSourceNameToUse);
+      if (source == null) {
+        throw new EventSourceNotFoundException(eventSourceNameToUse);
       }
+      setEventSource((T) source);
     }
   }
 
   /** To make this backwards compatible even for respect of overriding */
+  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
   public T initEventSource(EventSourceContext<P> context) {
     return (T) eventSource(context).orElseThrow();
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void useEventSourceWithName(String name) {
+    this.eventSourceNameToUse = name;
+  }
+
   @Override
   public Class<R> resourceType() {
     return resourceType;
@@ -116,10 +122,4 @@ public void setOnUpdateFilter(OnUpdateFilter<R> onUpdateFilter) {
   public void setOnDeleteFilter(OnDeleteFilter<R> onDeleteFilter) {
     this.onDeleteFilter = onDeleteFilter;
   }
-
-  public AbstractEventSourceHolderDependentResource<R, P, T> setEventSourceToUse(
-      String eventSourceToUse) {
-    this.eventSourceToUse = eventSourceToUse;
-    return this;
-  }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependent.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependent.java
index 2ccd4da82a..004a56b5f6 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependent.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependent.java
@@ -73,5 +73,4 @@
 
   Class<? extends ResourceDiscriminator> resourceDiscriminator() default ResourceDiscriminator.class;
 
-  String eventSourceToUse() default NO_VALUE_SET;
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java
index 37d2246a58..d019e79a7f 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java
@@ -60,10 +60,6 @@ public void configureWith(KubernetesDependentResourceConfig<R> config) {
     if (discriminator != null) {
       setResourceDiscriminator(discriminator);
     }
-    config.getEventSourceToUse().ifPresent(n -> {
-      doNotProvideEventSource();
-      setEventSourceToUse(n);
-    });
   }
 
   private void configureWith(String labelSelector, Set<String> namespaces,
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResourceConfig.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResourceConfig.java
index 8d092fdfa5..5cab02d28c 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResourceConfig.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResourceConfig.java
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.kubernetes;
 
-import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.Set;
 
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Constants;
@@ -18,7 +17,6 @@ public class KubernetesDependentResourceConfig<R> {
   private String labelSelector = NO_VALUE_SET;
   private boolean namespacesWereConfigured = false;
   private ResourceDiscriminator<R, ?> resourceDiscriminator;
-  private String eventSourceToUse;
 
   private OnAddFilter<R> onAddFilter;
 
@@ -34,7 +32,7 @@ public KubernetesDependentResourceConfig(Set<String> namespaces, String labelSel
       boolean configuredNS, ResourceDiscriminator<R, ?> resourceDiscriminator,
       OnAddFilter<R> onAddFilter,
       OnUpdateFilter<R> onUpdateFilter,
-      OnDeleteFilter<R> onDeleteFilter, GenericFilter<R> genericFilter, String eventSourceToUse) {
+      OnDeleteFilter<R> onDeleteFilter, GenericFilter<R> genericFilter) {
     this.namespaces = namespaces;
     this.labelSelector = labelSelector;
     this.namespacesWereConfigured = configuredNS;
@@ -43,12 +41,11 @@ public KubernetesDependentResourceConfig(Set<String> namespaces, String labelSel
     this.onDeleteFilter = onDeleteFilter;
     this.genericFilter = genericFilter;
     this.resourceDiscriminator = resourceDiscriminator;
-    this.eventSourceToUse = eventSourceToUse;
   }
 
   public KubernetesDependentResourceConfig(Set<String> namespaces, String labelSelector) {
     this(namespaces, labelSelector, true, null, null, null,
-        null, null, null);
+        null, null);
   }
 
   public KubernetesDependentResourceConfig<R> setNamespaces(Set<String> namespaces) {
@@ -97,7 +94,4 @@ public ResourceDiscriminator getResourceDiscriminator() {
     return resourceDiscriminator;
   }
 
-  public Optional<String> getEventSourceToUse() {
-    return Optional.ofNullable(eventSourceToUse);
-  }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/ManagedWorkflowSupport.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/ManagedWorkflowSupport.java
index 8ca56960b5..a6e6d27ce3 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/ManagedWorkflowSupport.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/ManagedWorkflowSupport.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.ConfigurationServiceProvider;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.dependent.DependentResourceSpec;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.DependentResource;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceReferencer;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.managed.DependentResourceConfigurator;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.managed.KubernetesClientAware;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.workflow.builder.WorkflowBuilder;
@@ -81,9 +82,20 @@ public DependentResource createAndConfigureFrom(DependentResourceSpec spec,
     if (dependentResource instanceof KubernetesClientAware) {
       ((KubernetesClientAware) dependentResource).setKubernetesClient(client);
     }
-    if (!spec.provideEventSource()) {
-      dependentResource.doNotProvideEventSource();
-    }
+
+    spec.getUseEventSourceWithName()
+        .ifPresent(esName -> {
+          final var name = (String) esName;
+          if (dependentResource instanceof EventSourceReferencer) {
+            ((EventSourceReferencer) dependentResource).useEventSourceWithName(name);
+          } else {
+            throw new IllegalStateException(
+                "DependentResource " + spec + " wants to use EventSource named " + name
+                    + " but doesn't implement support for this feature by implementing "
+                    + EventSourceReferencer.class.getSimpleName());
+          }
+        });
+
     if (dependentResource instanceof DependentResourceConfigurator) {
       final var configurator = (DependentResourceConfigurator) dependentResource;
       spec.getDependentResourceConfiguration().ifPresent(configurator::configureWith);
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverriderTest.java b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverriderTest.java
index 312d307cc1..4dd6938728 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverriderTest.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ControllerConfigurationOverriderTest.java
@@ -80,9 +80,6 @@ public ReconcileResult<Object> reconcile(ConfigMap primary, Context<ConfigMap> c
       public Class<Object> resourceType() {
         return Object.class;
       }
-
-      @Override
-      public void doNotProvideEventSource() {}
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractDependentResourceTest.java b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractDependentResourceTest.java
index 0fd85c5afc..b93abd45c0 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractDependentResourceTest.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/AbstractDependentResourceTest.java
@@ -7,9 +7,7 @@
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.ConfigMap;
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.ObjectMetaBuilder;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceContext;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.ResourceID;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.ResourceEventSource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.simple.TestCustomResource;
 
 import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.*;
@@ -80,12 +78,6 @@ public Class<ConfigMap> resourceType() {
       return ConfigMap.class;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    protected ResourceEventSource<ConfigMap, TestCustomResource> provideEventSource(
-        EventSourceContext<TestCustomResource> eventSourceContext) {
-      return null;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Optional<ConfigMap> getSecondaryResource(TestCustomResource primary,
         Context<TestCustomResource> context) {
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/EmptyTestDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/EmptyTestDependentResource.java
index dd42a80392..4fe88296ac 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/EmptyTestDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/EmptyTestDependentResource.java
@@ -19,9 +19,5 @@ public ReconcileResult<Deployment> reconcile(TestCustomResource primary,
   public Class<Deployment> resourceType() {
     return Deployment.class;
   }
-
-  @Override
-  public void doNotProvideEventSource() {}
-
 }
 
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/AbstractWorkflowExecutorTest.java b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/AbstractWorkflowExecutorTest.java
index 2ecb6bde24..9c10c06cc0 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/AbstractWorkflowExecutorTest.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/AbstractWorkflowExecutorTest.java
@@ -48,9 +48,6 @@ public Class<String> resourceType() {
       return String.class;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public void doNotProvideEventSource() {}
-
     @Override
     public String toString() {
       return name;
@@ -110,9 +107,6 @@ public Class<String> resourceType() {
       return String.class;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public void doNotProvideEventSource() {}
-
     @Override
     public String toString() {
       return name;
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/ManagedWorkflowTestUtils.java b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/ManagedWorkflowTestUtils.java
index 72a3886963..e3b97afb3c 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/ManagedWorkflowTestUtils.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/workflow/ManagedWorkflowTestUtils.java
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ public class ManagedWorkflowTestUtils {
   public static DependentResourceSpec createDRS(String name, String... dependOns) {
     return new DependentResourceSpec(EmptyTestDependentResource.class,
         null, name, Set.of(dependOns), null, null, null,
-        true);
+        null);
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap1.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap1.java
index 0d450c1871..98f8033076 100644
--- a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap1.java
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap1.java
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.kubernetes.CRUDKubernetesDependentResource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.kubernetes.KubernetesDependent;
 
-import static io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.multiplemanageddependentsametype.MultipleManagedDependentResourceReconciler.CONFIG_MAP_EVENT_SOURCE;
-
-@KubernetesDependent(eventSourceToUse = CONFIG_MAP_EVENT_SOURCE,
-    resourceDiscriminator = ConfigMap1Discriminator.class)
+@KubernetesDependent(resourceDiscriminator = ConfigMap1Discriminator.class)
 public class MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap1
     extends
     CRUDKubernetesDependentResource<ConfigMap, MultipleManagedDependentResourceCustomResource> {
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap2.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap2.java
index 11902fc518..d4cdd4170f 100644
--- a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap2.java
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap2.java
@@ -9,11 +9,9 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.kubernetes.CRUDKubernetesDependentResource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.kubernetes.KubernetesDependent;
 
-import static io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.multiplemanageddependentsametype.MultipleManagedDependentResourceReconciler.CONFIG_MAP_EVENT_SOURCE;
 import static io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.multiplemanageddependentsametype.MultipleManagedDependentResourceReconciler.DATA_KEY;
 
-@KubernetesDependent(eventSourceToUse = CONFIG_MAP_EVENT_SOURCE,
-    resourceDiscriminator = ConfigMap2Discriminator.class)
+@KubernetesDependent(resourceDiscriminator = ConfigMap2Discriminator.class)
 public class MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap2
     extends
     CRUDKubernetesDependentResource<ConfigMap, MultipleManagedDependentResourceCustomResource> {
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceReconciler.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceReconciler.java
index edfa7ad2bd..2d9b4f3ee9 100644
--- a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceReconciler.java
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanageddependentsametype/MultipleManagedDependentResourceReconciler.java
@@ -11,9 +11,13 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.informer.InformerEventSource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.support.TestExecutionInfoProvider;
 
+import static io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.multiplemanageddependentsametype.MultipleManagedDependentResourceReconciler.CONFIG_MAP_EVENT_SOURCE;
+
 @ControllerConfiguration(dependents = {
-    @Dependent(type = MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap1.class),
-    @Dependent(type = MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap2.class)
+    @Dependent(type = MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap1.class,
+        useEventSourceWithName = CONFIG_MAP_EVENT_SOURCE),
+    @Dependent(type = MultipleManagedDependentResourceConfigMap2.class,
+        useEventSourceWithName = CONFIG_MAP_EVENT_SOURCE)
 })
 public class MultipleManagedDependentResourceReconciler
     implements Reconciler<MultipleManagedDependentResourceCustomResource>,
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanagedexternaldependenttype/MultipleManagedExternalDependentResourceReconciler.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanagedexternaldependenttype/MultipleManagedExternalDependentResourceReconciler.java
index 573df92287..349409ec73 100644
--- a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanagedexternaldependenttype/MultipleManagedExternalDependentResourceReconciler.java
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/multiplemanagedexternaldependenttype/MultipleManagedExternalDependentResourceReconciler.java
@@ -15,9 +15,13 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.support.ExternalServiceMock;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.support.TestExecutionInfoProvider;
 
+import static io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.multiplemanagedexternaldependenttype.MultipleManagedExternalDependentResourceReconciler.CONFIG_MAP_EVENT_SOURCE;
+
 @ControllerConfiguration(dependents = {
-    @Dependent(type = ExternalDependentResource1.class, provideEventSource = false),
-    @Dependent(type = ExternalDependentResource2.class, provideEventSource = false)
+    @Dependent(type = ExternalDependentResource1.class,
+        useEventSourceWithName = CONFIG_MAP_EVENT_SOURCE),
+    @Dependent(type = ExternalDependentResource2.class,
+        useEventSourceWithName = CONFIG_MAP_EVENT_SOURCE)
 })
 public class MultipleManagedExternalDependentResourceReconciler
     implements Reconciler<MultipleManagedExternalDependentResourceCustomResource>,