🐛 Fix MachinePool node taint patching

exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_noderef.go

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ func (r *MachinePoolReconciler) reconcileNodeRefs(ctx context.Context, cluster *
 	}
 
 	// Check that the Machine doesn't already have a NodeRefs.
+	// Return early if there is no work to do.
 	if mp.Status.Replicas == mp.Status.ReadyReplicas && len(mp.Status.NodeRefs) == int(mp.Status.ReadyReplicas) {
 		conditions.MarkTrue(mp, expv1.ReplicasReadyCondition)
 		return ctrl.Result{}, nil
@@ -112,7 +113,10 @@ func (r *MachinePoolReconciler) reconcileNodeRefs(ctx context.Context, cluster *
 			clusterv1.OwnerNameAnnotation:        mp.Name,
 		}
 		// Add annotations and drop NodeUninitializedTaint.
-		if annotations.AddAnnotations(node, desired) || taints.RemoveNodeTaint(node, clusterv1.NodeUninitializedTaint) {
+		hasAnnotationChanges := annotations.AddAnnotations(node, desired)
+		hasTaintChanges := taints.RemoveNodeTaint(node, clusterv1.NodeUninitializedTaint)
+		// Patch the node if needed.
+		if hasAnnotationChanges || hasTaintChanges {
 			if err := patchHelper.Patch(ctx, node); err != nil {
 				log.V(2).Info("Failed patch node to set annotations and drop taints", "err", err, "node name", node.Name)
 				return ctrl.Result{}, err