diff --git a/.golangci.yml b/.golangci.yml
index a5a5dad615..9ca3fd9270 100644
--- a/.golangci.yml
+++ b/.golangci.yml
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ linters-settings:
       - pkg: sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime
         alias: ctrl
   staticcheck:
-    go: "1.16"
+    go: "1.17"
   stylecheck:
-    go: "1.16"
+    go: "1.17"
 
 issues:
   max-same-issues: 0
diff --git a/examples/configfile/custom/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/examples/configfile/custom/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index eff37f0a37..b9d3b6b4b9 100644
--- a/examples/configfile/custom/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/examples/configfile/custom/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+//go:build !ignore_autogenerated
 // +build !ignore_autogenerated
 
 // Code generated by controller-gen. DO NOT EDIT.
diff --git a/pkg/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/pkg/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index 752fa9754c..5329bef667 100644
--- a/pkg/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/pkg/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+//go:build !ignore_autogenerated
 // +build !ignore_autogenerated
 
 // Code generated by controller-gen. DO NOT EDIT.
diff --git a/pkg/internal/controller/controller.go b/pkg/internal/controller/controller.go
index 1f4712d8bf..4d729525a8 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/controller/controller.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/controller/controller.go
@@ -267,6 +267,13 @@ func (c *Controller) processNextWorkItem(ctx context.Context) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
+// Len returns the current queue length, for informational purposes only. You
+// shouldn't e.g. gate a call to Add() or Get() on Len() being a particular
+// value, that can't be synchronized properly.
+func (c *Controller) Len() int {
+	return c.Queue.Len()
+}
+
 const (
 	labelError        = "error"
 	labelRequeueAfter = "requeue_after"