diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index c44b9c766..05e4bf028 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ RUN go mod download
 
 # copy source code
 COPY main.go main.go
-COPY controllers/ controllers/
 COPY internal/ internal/
 
 # build without specifing the arch
diff --git a/controllers/helmrelease_controller.go b/internal/controllers/helmrelease_controller.go
similarity index 100%
rename from controllers/helmrelease_controller.go
rename to internal/controllers/helmrelease_controller.go
diff --git a/controllers/helmrelease_controller_chart.go b/internal/controllers/helmrelease_controller_chart.go
similarity index 100%
rename from controllers/helmrelease_controller_chart.go
rename to internal/controllers/helmrelease_controller_chart.go
diff --git a/controllers/helmrelease_controller_chart_test.go b/internal/controllers/helmrelease_controller_chart_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from controllers/helmrelease_controller_chart_test.go
rename to internal/controllers/helmrelease_controller_chart_test.go
diff --git a/controllers/helmrelease_controller_fuzz_test.go b/internal/controllers/helmrelease_controller_fuzz_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from controllers/helmrelease_controller_fuzz_test.go
rename to internal/controllers/helmrelease_controller_fuzz_test.go
diff --git a/controllers/helmrelease_controller_test.go b/internal/controllers/helmrelease_controller_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from controllers/helmrelease_controller_test.go
rename to internal/controllers/helmrelease_controller_test.go
diff --git a/controllers/source_predicate.go b/internal/controllers/source_predicate.go
similarity index 100%
rename from controllers/source_predicate.go
rename to internal/controllers/source_predicate.go
diff --git a/controllers/suite_test.go b/internal/controllers/suite_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from controllers/suite_test.go
rename to internal/controllers/suite_test.go
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index affb02e26..1cd6d7fb8 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/internal/oomwatch"
 	"os"
 	"time"
 
@@ -46,9 +45,10 @@ import (
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 
 	v2 "github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/api/v2beta1"
-	"github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/controllers"
+	"github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/internal/controllers"
 	"github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/internal/features"
 	intkube "github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/internal/kube"
+	"github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/internal/oomwatch"
 	feathelper "github.com/fluxcd/pkg/runtime/features"
 	// +kubebuilder:scaffold:imports
 )