diff --git a/controllers/natsaccount_controller.go b/controllers/natsaccount_controller.go
index c28e10c..5142f94 100644
--- a/controllers/natsaccount_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/natsaccount_controller.go
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func (r *NatsAccountReconciler) reconcileAccount(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.R
 
 	issuer := &natsv1alpha1.NatsOperator{}
 	issuerName := client.ObjectKey{
-		Namespace: req.Namespace,
+		Namespace: utilx.IfElse(utilx.Empty(account.Spec.OperatorRef.Namespace), req.Namespace, account.Spec.OperatorRef.Namespace),
 		Name:      account.Spec.OperatorRef.Name,
 	}
 
@@ -287,6 +287,5 @@ func (r *NatsAccountReconciler) SetupWithManager(mgr ctrl.Manager) error {
 	return ctrl.NewControllerManagedBy(mgr).
 		For(&natsv1alpha1.NatsAccount{}).
 		Owns(&corev1.Secret{}).
-		Owns(&natsv1alpha1.NatsUser{}).
 		Complete(r)
 }
diff --git a/controllers/natsuser_controller.go b/controllers/natsuser_controller.go
index 619280d..6ee53ee 100644
--- a/controllers/natsuser_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/natsuser_controller.go
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func (r *NatsUserReconciler) reconcileUser(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request
 
 	issuer := &natsv1alpha1.NatsAccount{}
 	issuerName := client.ObjectKey{
-		Namespace: req.Namespace,
+		Namespace: utilx.IfElse(utilx.Empty(user.Spec.AccountRef.Namespace), req.Namespace, user.Spec.AccountRef.Namespace),
 		Name:      user.Spec.AccountRef.Name,
 	}
 
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func (r *NatsUserReconciler) reconcileUser(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request
 	op, err := controllerutil.CreateOrUpdate(ctx, r.Client, user, func() error {
 		controllerutil.AddFinalizer(user, natsv1alpha1.FinalizerName)
 
-		return controllerutil.SetControllerReference(issuer, user, r.Scheme)
+		return nil
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ func (r *NatsUserReconciler) reconcileSecret(ctx context.Context, user *natsv1al
 
 	issuer := &natsv1alpha1.NatsAccount{}
 	issuerName := client.ObjectKey{
-		Namespace: user.Namespace,
+		Namespace: utilx.IfElse(utilx.Empty(user.Spec.AccountRef.Namespace), user.Namespace, user.Spec.AccountRef.Namespace),
 		Name:      user.Spec.AccountRef.Name,
 	}
 
diff --git a/examples/user.yaml b/examples/user.yaml
index 10eee92..a8205fb 100644
--- a/examples/user.yaml
+++ b/examples/user.yaml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ metadata:
   name: knative-eventing-user
 spec:
   accountRef:
+    namespace: default
     name: knative-eventing-account
   limits:
     payload: -1