diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcher.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcher.java
index 23fb29151f..668ed409ab 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcher.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcher.java
@@ -183,7 +183,9 @@ public static <R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata> Matcher.Result<R> m
     final var kubernetesSerialization = context.getClient().getKubernetesSerialization();
     var desiredNode = kubernetesSerialization.convertValue(desired, JsonNode.class);
     var actualNode = kubernetesSerialization.convertValue(actualResource, JsonNode.class);
-    var wholeDiffJsonPatch = JsonDiff.asJson(desiredNode, actualNode);
+    // move and copy operations would hide additions and removals from the checks below
+    var wholeDiffJsonPatch =
+        JsonDiff.asJson(desiredNode, actualNode, DiffFlags.dontNormalizeOpIntoMoveAndCopy());
 
     boolean matched = true;
     for (int i = 0; i < wholeDiffJsonPatch.size() && matched; i++) {
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcherTest.java b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcherTest.java
index 0c2583d594..529b76425e 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcherTest.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcherTest.java
@@ -77,6 +77,47 @@ void matchesAdditiveOnlyChanges() {
         .isTrue();
   }
 
+  @Test
+  void matchesAdditiveChangesWithValueEqualToAnExistingValue() {
+    var desired =
+        new ServiceBuilder()
+            .withNewMetadata()
+            .withName("test")
+            .endMetadata()
+            .withNewSpec()
+            .addNewPort()
+            .withPort(80)
+            .endPort()
+            .endSpec()
+            .build();
+    // the API server defaults targetPort to the value of port
+    var actual =
+        new ServiceBuilder(desired)
+            .editSpec()
+            .editFirstPort()
+            .withTargetPort(new IntOrString(80))
+            .endPort()
+            .endSpec()
+            .build();
+    assertThat(GenericKubernetesResourceMatcher.match(desired, actual, context).matched())
+        .withFailMessage(
+            "Additive changes should not cause a mismatch even if the added value equals an"
+                + " existing one")
+        .isTrue();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void doesNotMatchRemovedValueAddedBackUnderIgnoredPath() {
+    actual = createDeployment();
+    // revisionHistoryLimit is 10 in desired, the added priority has the same value
+    actual.getSpec().setRevisionHistoryLimit(null);
+    actual.getSpec().getTemplate().getSpec().setPriority(10);
+    assertThat(
+            match(dependentResource, actual, null, context, false, "/spec/template/spec").matched())
+        .withFailMessage("Removing values outside of ignored paths should lead to a mismatch")
+        .isFalse();
+  }
+
   @Test
   void matchesWithStrongSpecEquality() {
     actual.getSpec().getTemplate().getMetadata().getLabels().put("new-key", "val");