diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/helper/certificaterequests.go b/test/e2e/framework/helper/certificaterequests.go
index 1b3580261..b1a7731b7 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/helper/certificaterequests.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/helper/certificaterequests.go
@@ -186,8 +186,11 @@ func (h *Helper) ValidateIssuedCertificateRequest(cr *cmapi.CertificateRequest,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if !apiutil.CertificateRequestHasApproved(cr) {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("CertificateRequest does not have an Approved condition: %+v", cr.Status.Conditions)
+	if !apiutil.CertificateRequestIsApproved(cr) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("CertificateRequest does not have an Approved condition set to True: %+v", cr.Status.Conditions)
+	}
+	if apiutil.CertificateRequestIsDenied(cr) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("CertificateRequest has a Denied conditon set to True: %+v", cr.Status.Conditions)
 	}
 
 	return cert, nil
diff --git a/test/unit/gen/certificaterequest.go b/test/unit/gen/certificaterequest.go
index a24fbd0fe..39a1335a3 100644
--- a/test/unit/gen/certificaterequest.go
+++ b/test/unit/gen/certificaterequest.go
@@ -96,6 +96,12 @@ func SetCertificateRequestStatusCondition(c v1.CertificateRequestCondition) Cert
 	}
 }
 
+func AddCertificateRequestStatusCondition(c v1.CertificateRequestCondition) CertificateRequestModifier {
+	return func(cr *v1.CertificateRequest) {
+		cr.Status.Conditions = append(cr.Status.Conditions, c)
+	}
+}
+
 func SetCertificateRequestNamespace(namespace string) CertificateRequestModifier {
 	return func(cr *v1.CertificateRequest) {
 		cr.ObjectMeta.Namespace = namespace