diff --git a/controllers/nova_controller.go b/controllers/nova_controller.go
index 575e378d3..a2ce1aa55 100644
--- a/controllers/nova_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/nova_controller.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package controllers
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
 	batchv1 "k8s.io/api/batch/v1"
@@ -309,12 +310,16 @@ func (r *NovaReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request) (resul
 	// iteration order is undefined we need to make sure that cell0 is the
 	// first to allow dependency handling during ensureCell calls.
 	orderedCellNames := []string{novav1.Cell0Name}
+	sortedCellNames := []string{}
 	for cellName := range instance.Spec.CellTemplates {
 		if cellName != novav1.Cell0Name {
-			orderedCellNames = append(orderedCellNames, cellName)
+			sortedCellNames = append(sortedCellNames, cellName)
 		}
 	}
 
+	sort.Strings(sortedCellNames)
+	orderedCellNames = append(orderedCellNames, sortedCellNames...)
+
 	// Create the Cell DBs. Note that we are not returning on error or if the
 	// DB creation is still in progress. We move forward with whatever we can
 	// and relay on the watch to get reconciled if some of the resources change