diff --git a/api/v1/coherence_webhook.go b/api/v1/coherence_webhook.go
index 86a1a9f5..77066a26 100644
--- a/api/v1/coherence_webhook.go
+++ b/api/v1/coherence_webhook.go
@@ -61,6 +61,14 @@ func SetCommonDefaults(in CoherenceResource) {
 	logger := webhookLogger.WithValues("namespace", in.GetNamespace(), "name", in.GetName())
 	status := in.GetStatus()
 	spec := in.GetSpec()
+	dt := in.GetDeletionTimestamp()
+
+	if dt != nil {
+		// the deletion timestamp is set so do nothing
+		logger.Info("Skipping updating defaults for deleted resource", "deletionTimestamp", *dt)
+		return
+	}
+
 	if status.Phase == "" {
 		logger.Info("Setting defaults for new resource")
 
@@ -105,8 +113,8 @@ func SetCommonDefaults(in CoherenceResource) {
 		// Set the features supported by this version
 		in.AddAnnotation(AnnotationFeatureSuspend, "true")
 	} else {
-		logger.Info("Updating defaults for existing resource")
 		// this is an update
+		logger.Info("Updating defaults for existing resource")
 	}
 
 	// apply the Operator version annotation
@@ -134,8 +142,16 @@ var commonWebHook = CommonWebHook{}
 // The optional warnings will be added to the response as warning messages.
 // Return an error if the object is invalid.
 func (in *Coherence) ValidateCreate() (admission.Warnings, error) {
+	logger := webhookLogger.WithValues("namespace", in.GetNamespace(), "name", in.GetName())
 	var warnings admission.Warnings
 
+	dt := in.GetDeletionTimestamp()
+	if dt != nil {
+		// the deletion timestamp is set so do nothing
+		logger.Info("Skipping validation for deleted resource", "deletionTimestamp", *dt)
+		return warnings, nil
+	}
+
 	webhookLogger.Info("validate create", "name", in.Name)
 	if err := commonWebHook.validateReplicas(in); err != nil {
 		return warnings, err
@@ -154,8 +170,16 @@ func (in *Coherence) ValidateCreate() (admission.Warnings, error) {
 // Return an error if the object is invalid.
 func (in *Coherence) ValidateUpdate(previous runtime.Object) (admission.Warnings, error) {
 	webhookLogger.Info("validate update", "name", in.Name)
+	logger := webhookLogger.WithValues("namespace", in.GetNamespace(), "name", in.GetName())
 	var warnings admission.Warnings
 
+	dt := in.GetDeletionTimestamp()
+	if dt != nil {
+		// the deletion timestamp is set so do nothing
+		logger.Info("Skipping validation for deleted resource", "deletionTimestamp", *dt)
+		return warnings, nil
+	}
+
 	if err := commonWebHook.validateReplicas(in); err != nil {
 		return warnings, err
 	}
diff --git a/api/v1/coherence_webhook_test.go b/api/v1/coherence_webhook_test.go
index c9800132..b4a9e785 100644
--- a/api/v1/coherence_webhook_test.go
+++ b/api/v1/coherence_webhook_test.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/intstr"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 )
 
 func TestDefaultReplicasIsSet(t *testing.T) {
@@ -77,6 +78,26 @@ func TestShouldNotRemoveFinalizersAlreadyPresent(t *testing.T) {
 	g.Expect(finalizers).To(ContainElement(coh.CoherenceFinalizer))
 }
 
+func TestNoNotAddFinalizerToDeletedResource(t *testing.T) {
+	g := NewGomegaWithT(t)
+
+	dt := &metav1.Time{
+		Time: time.Now(),
+	}
+
+	c := &coh.Coherence{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+			Name:              "foo",
+			DeletionTimestamp: dt,
+		},
+		Spec: coh.CoherenceStatefulSetResourceSpec{},
+	}
+
+	c.Default()
+	finalizers := c.GetFinalizers()
+	g.Expect(finalizers).To(BeNil())
+}
+
 func TestDefaultReplicasIsNotOverriddenWhenAlreadySet(t *testing.T) {
 	g := NewGomegaWithT(t)