diff --git a/pkg/controller/acmeorders/sync.go b/pkg/controller/acmeorders/sync.go
index 6cde88af7..57fa872bd 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/acmeorders/sync.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/acmeorders/sync.go
@@ -161,6 +161,14 @@ func (c *controller) Sync(ctx context.Context, o *cmacme.Order) (err error) {
 		return c.finalizeOrder(ctx, cl, o, genericIssuer)
 	}
 
+	// At this point, if no Challenges have failed or reached a final state,
+	// we can return without taking any action. This controller will resync
+	// the Order on any owned Challenge events.
+	if !anyChallengesFailed(challenges) && !allChallengesFinal(challenges) {
+		log.V(logf.DebugLevel).Info("No action taken")
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// Note: each of the following code paths uses the ACME Order retrieved
 	// here. Be mindful when adding new code below this call to ACME server-
 	// if the new code does not need this ACME order, try to place it above
diff --git a/pkg/controller/acmeorders/sync_test.go b/pkg/controller/acmeorders/sync_test.go
index a04fe2521..7866c7201 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/acmeorders/sync_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/acmeorders/sync_test.go
@@ -490,9 +490,6 @@ rUCGwbCUDI0mxadJ3Bz4WxR6fyNpBK2yAinWEsikxqEt
 				ExpectedActions:    []testpkg.Action{},
 			},
 			acmeClient: &acmecl.FakeACME{
-				FakeGetOrder: func(_ context.Context, url string) (*acmeapi.Order, error) {
-					return testACMEOrderPending, nil
-				},
 				FakeHTTP01ChallengeResponse: func(s string) (string, error) {
 					// TODO: assert s = "token"
 					return "key", nil