diff --git a/api/v1/composition.go b/api/v1/composition.go
index 3adf6ec2..d0e929b8 100644
--- a/api/v1/composition.go
+++ b/api/v1/composition.go
@@ -59,10 +59,13 @@ type Synthesis struct {
 	// metadata.generation of the Composition at the time of synthesis.
 	ObservedGeneration int64 `json:"observedGeneration,omitempty"`
 
+	// metadata.generation of the Synthesizer at the time of synthesis.
+	ObservedSynthesizerGeneration *int64 `json:"observedSynthesizerGeneration,omitempty"`
+
 	// Number of resulting resource slices. Since they are immutable, this provides adequate timing signal to avoid stale informer caches.
-	ResourceSliceCount int64 `json:"resourceSliceCount,omitempty"`
+	ResourceSliceCount *int64 `json:"resourceSliceCount,omitempty"`
 
-	Ready       bool        `json:"ready,omitempty"`
-	Synced      bool        `json:"synced,omitempty"`
-	PodCreation metav1.Time `json:"podCreation,omitempty"`
+	Ready       bool         `json:"ready,omitempty"`
+	Synced      bool         `json:"synced,omitempty"`
+	PodCreation *metav1.Time `json:"podCreation,omitempty"`
 }
diff --git a/api/v1/config/crd/eno.azure.io_compositions.yaml b/api/v1/config/crd/eno.azure.io_compositions.yaml
index e9a5dff2..1b04b3d2 100644
--- a/api/v1/config/crd/eno.azure.io_compositions.yaml
+++ b/api/v1/config/crd/eno.azure.io_compositions.yaml
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ spec:
                       of synthesis.
                     format: int64
                     type: integer
+                  observedSynthesizerGeneration:
+                    description: metadata.generation of the Synthesizer at the time
+                      of synthesis.
+                    format: int64
+                    type: integer
                   podCreation:
                     format: date-time
                     type: string
@@ -98,6 +103,11 @@ spec:
                       of synthesis.
                     format: int64
                     type: integer
+                  observedSynthesizerGeneration:
+                    description: metadata.generation of the Synthesizer at the time
+                      of synthesis.
+                    format: int64
+                    type: integer
                   podCreation:
                     format: date-time
                     type: string
diff --git a/api/v1/config/crd/eno.azure.io_synthesizers.yaml b/api/v1/config/crd/eno.azure.io_synthesizers.yaml
index a90e2aac..471d8c75 100644
--- a/api/v1/config/crd/eno.azure.io_synthesizers.yaml
+++ b/api/v1/config/crd/eno.azure.io_synthesizers.yaml
@@ -45,6 +45,12 @@ spec:
                   complete.
                 format: int64
                 type: integer
+              lastRolloutTime:
+                description: LastRolloutTime is the timestamp of the last pod creation
+                  caused by a change to this resource. Should not be updated due to
+                  Composotion changes. Used to calculate rollout cooldown period.
+                format: date-time
+                type: string
             type: object
         type: object
     served: true
diff --git a/api/v1/synthesizer.go b/api/v1/synthesizer.go
index 231233a9..116f365c 100644
--- a/api/v1/synthesizer.go
+++ b/api/v1/synthesizer.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package v1
 
-import metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+import (
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+)
 
 // +kubebuilder:object:root=true
 type SynthesizerList struct {
@@ -29,6 +31,11 @@ type SynthesizerStatus struct {
 	// The metadata.generation of this resource at the oldest version currently used by any Generations.
 	// This will equal the current generation when slow rollout of an update to the Generations is complete.
 	CurrentGeneration int64 `json:"currentGeneration,omitempty"`
+
+	// LastRolloutTime is the timestamp of the last pod creation caused by a change to this resource.
+	// Should not be updated due to Composotion changes.
+	// Used to calculate rollout cooldown period.
+	LastRolloutTime *metav1.Time `json:"lastRolloutTime,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type SynthesizerRef struct {
diff --git a/api/v1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/api/v1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index ff317a45..b9fdbc6f 100644
--- a/api/v1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/api/v1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -308,7 +308,20 @@ func (in *ResourceState) DeepCopy() *ResourceState {
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
 func (in *Synthesis) DeepCopyInto(out *Synthesis) {
 	*out = *in
-	in.PodCreation.DeepCopyInto(&out.PodCreation)
+	if in.ObservedSynthesizerGeneration != nil {
+		in, out := &in.ObservedSynthesizerGeneration, &out.ObservedSynthesizerGeneration
+		*out = new(int64)
+		**out = **in
+	}
+	if in.ResourceSliceCount != nil {
+		in, out := &in.ResourceSliceCount, &out.ResourceSliceCount
+		*out = new(int64)
+		**out = **in
+	}
+	if in.PodCreation != nil {
+		in, out := &in.PodCreation, &out.PodCreation
+		*out = (*in).DeepCopy()
+	}
 }
 
 // DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new Synthesis.
@@ -327,7 +340,7 @@ func (in *Synthesizer) DeepCopyInto(out *Synthesizer) {
 	out.TypeMeta = in.TypeMeta
 	in.ObjectMeta.DeepCopyInto(&out.ObjectMeta)
 	out.Spec = in.Spec
-	out.Status = in.Status
+	in.Status.DeepCopyInto(&out.Status)
 }
 
 // DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new Synthesizer.
@@ -413,6 +426,10 @@ func (in *SynthesizerSpec) DeepCopy() *SynthesizerSpec {
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
 func (in *SynthesizerStatus) DeepCopyInto(out *SynthesizerStatus) {
 	*out = *in
+	if in.LastRolloutTime != nil {
+		in, out := &in.LastRolloutTime, &out.LastRolloutTime
+		*out = (*in).DeepCopy()
+	}
 }
 
 // DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new SynthesizerStatus.
diff --git a/internal/manager/manager.go b/internal/manager/manager.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..57da0a56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/manager/manager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+package manager
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/rest"
+	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/reconcile"
+
+	apiv1 "github.com/Azure/eno/api/v1"
+)
+
+const (
+	IdxSlicesByCompositionGeneration = ".metadata.ownerReferences.compositionGen" // see: NewSlicesByCompositionGenerationKey
+)
+
+func New(cfg *rest.Config, logger logr.Logger) (ctrl.Manager, error) {
+	mgr, err := ctrl.NewManager(cfg, manager.Options{
+		Logger: logger,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	err = apiv1.SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme(mgr.GetScheme())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	err = mgr.GetFieldIndexer().IndexField(context.Background(), &apiv1.ResourceSlice{}, IdxSlicesByCompositionGeneration, func(o client.Object) []string {
+		slice := o.(*apiv1.ResourceSlice)
+		owner := metav1.GetControllerOf(slice)
+		if owner == nil || owner.Kind != "Composition" {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return []string{NewSlicesByCompositionGenerationKey(owner.Name, slice.Spec.CompositionGeneration)}
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return mgr, nil
+}
+
+func NewLogConstructor(mgr ctrl.Manager, controllerName string) func(*reconcile.Request) logr.Logger {
+	return func(req *reconcile.Request) logr.Logger {
+		l := mgr.GetLogger().WithValues("controller", controllerName)
+		if req != nil {
+			l.WithValues("requestName", req.Name, "requestNamespace", req.Namespace)
+		}
+		return l
+	}
+}
+
+// NewSlicesByCompositionGenerationKey documents the key structure used by IdxSlicesByCompositionGeneration.
+func NewSlicesByCompositionGenerationKey(compName string, compGeneration int64) string {
+	// keys will not collide because k8s doesn't allow slashes in names
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s/%d", compName, compGeneration)
+}
diff --git a/internal/reconstitution/reconstituter.go b/internal/reconstitution/reconstituter.go
index e174b332..5565c433 100644
--- a/internal/reconstitution/reconstituter.go
+++ b/internal/reconstitution/reconstituter.go
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@ import (
 	"sync/atomic"
 
 	k8serrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
-	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
 	apiv1 "github.com/Azure/eno/api/v1"
+	"github.com/Azure/eno/internal/manager"
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
 )
 
@@ -28,30 +28,16 @@ type reconstituter struct {
 }
 
 func newReconstituter(mgr ctrl.Manager) (*reconstituter, error) {
-	// Index resource slices by the specific synthesis they originate from
-	err := mgr.GetFieldIndexer().IndexField(context.Background(), &apiv1.ResourceSlice{}, indexName, func(o client.Object) []string {
-		slice := o.(*apiv1.ResourceSlice)
-		owner := metav1.GetControllerOf(slice)
-		if owner == nil || owner.Kind != "Composition" {
-			return nil
-		}
-		// keys will not collide because k8s doesn't allow slashes in names
-		return []string{fmt.Sprintf("%s/%d", owner.Name, slice.Spec.CompositionGeneration)}
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	r := &reconstituter{
 		cache:  newCache(mgr.GetClient()),
 		client: mgr.GetClient(),
 	}
-	_, err = ctrl.NewControllerManagedBy(mgr).
+	return r, ctrl.NewControllerManagedBy(mgr).
 		Named("reconstituter").
 		For(&apiv1.Composition{}).
 		Owns(&apiv1.ResourceSlice{}).
-		Build(r)
-	return r, err
+		WithLogConstructor(manager.NewLogConstructor(mgr, "reconstituter")).
+		Complete(r)
 }
 
 func (r *reconstituter) AddQueue(queue workqueue.Interface) {
@@ -96,6 +82,10 @@ func (r *reconstituter) populateCache(ctx context.Context, comp *apiv1.Compositi
 	if synthesis == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
+	if synthesis.ResourceSliceCount == nil {
+		logger.V(1).Info("resource synthesis is not complete - waiting to fill cache")
+		return nil
+	}
 	compNSN := types.NamespacedName{Namespace: comp.Namespace, Name: comp.Name}
 
 	logger = logger.WithValues("synthesisGen", synthesis.ObservedGeneration)
@@ -107,14 +97,14 @@ func (r *reconstituter) populateCache(ctx context.Context, comp *apiv1.Compositi
 
 	slices := &apiv1.ResourceSliceList{}
 	err := r.client.List(ctx, slices, client.InNamespace(comp.Namespace), client.MatchingFields{
-		indexName: fmt.Sprintf("%s/%d", comp.Name, synthesis.ObservedGeneration),
+		manager.IdxSlicesByCompositionGeneration: manager.NewSlicesByCompositionGenerationKey(comp.Name, synthesis.ObservedGeneration),
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("listing resource slices: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	logger.V(1).Info(fmt.Sprintf("found %d slices for this synthesis", len(slices.Items)))
-	if int64(len(slices.Items)) != synthesis.ResourceSliceCount {
+	if int64(len(slices.Items)) != *synthesis.ResourceSliceCount {
 		logger.V(1).Info("stale informer - waiting for sync")
 		return nil
 	}
diff --git a/internal/reconstitution/reconstituter_test.go b/internal/reconstitution/reconstituter_test.go
index f026b982..ce6efbf6 100644
--- a/internal/reconstitution/reconstituter_test.go
+++ b/internal/reconstitution/reconstituter_test.go
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@ func TestReconstituterIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 	comp.Namespace = "default"
 	require.NoError(t, client.Create(ctx, comp))
 
+	one := int64(1)
 	comp.Status.CurrentState = &apiv1.Synthesis{
 		ObservedGeneration: comp.Generation,
-		ResourceSliceCount: 1,
+		ResourceSliceCount: &one,
 	}
 	require.NoError(t, client.Status().Update(ctx, comp))
 
diff --git a/internal/reconstitution/writebuffer.go b/internal/reconstitution/writebuffer.go
index 1a33f2ca..6b47f847 100644
--- a/internal/reconstitution/writebuffer.go
+++ b/internal/reconstitution/writebuffer.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ type asyncStatusUpdate struct {
 // updates over a short period of time and applying them in a single update request.
 type writeBuffer struct {
 	client client.Client
-	logger logr.Logger
 
 	// queue items are per-slice.
 	// the state map collects multiple updates per slice to be dispatched by next queue item.
@@ -34,10 +33,9 @@ type writeBuffer struct {
 	queue workqueue.RateLimitingInterface
 }
 
-func newWriteBuffer(cli client.Client, logger logr.Logger, batchInterval time.Duration, burst int) *writeBuffer {
+func newWriteBuffer(cli client.Client, batchInterval time.Duration, burst int) *writeBuffer {
 	return &writeBuffer{
 		client: cli,
-		logger: logger.WithValues("controller", "writeBuffer"),
 		state:  make(map[types.NamespacedName][]*asyncStatusUpdate),
 		queue: workqueue.NewRateLimitingQueueWithConfig(
 			&workqueue.BucketRateLimiter{Limiter: rate.NewLimiter(rate.Every(batchInterval), burst)},
@@ -80,14 +78,14 @@ func (w *writeBuffer) processQueueItem(ctx context.Context) bool {
 	defer w.queue.Done(item)
 	sliceNSN := item.(types.NamespacedName)
 
+	logger := logr.FromContextOrDiscard(ctx).WithValues("slice", sliceNSN, "controller", "writeBuffer")
+	ctx = logr.NewContext(ctx, logger)
+
 	w.mut.Lock()
 	updates := w.state[sliceNSN]
 	delete(w.state, sliceNSN)
 	w.mut.Unlock()
 
-	logger := w.logger.WithValues("slice", sliceNSN)
-	ctx = logr.NewContext(ctx, logger)
-
 	if len(updates) == 0 {
 		logger.V(0).Info("dropping queue item because no updates were found for this slice (this is suspicious)")
 	}
diff --git a/internal/reconstitution/writebuffer_test.go b/internal/reconstitution/writebuffer_test.go
index 37207c2f..a3caf4b0 100644
--- a/internal/reconstitution/writebuffer_test.go
+++ b/internal/reconstitution/writebuffer_test.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/go-logr/logr/testr"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
@@ -19,9 +18,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestWriteBufferBasics(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
+	ctx := testutil.NewContext(t)
 	cli := testutil.NewClient(t)
-	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, testr.New(t), 0, 1)
+	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, 0, 1)
 
 	// One resource slice w/ len of 3
 	slice := &apiv1.ResourceSlice{}
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ func TestWriteBufferBasics(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestWriteBufferBatching(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
+	ctx := testutil.NewContext(t)
 	var updateCalls atomic.Int32
 	cli := testutil.NewClientWithInterceptors(t, &interceptor.Funcs{
 		SubResourceUpdate: func(ctx context.Context, client client.Client, subResourceName string, obj client.Object, opts ...client.SubResourceUpdateOption) error {
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ func TestWriteBufferBatching(t *testing.T) {
 			return client.SubResource(subResourceName).Update(ctx, obj, opts...)
 		},
 	})
-	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, testr.New(t), time.Millisecond*2, 1)
+	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, time.Millisecond*2, 1)
 
 	// One resource slice w/ len of 3
 	slice := &apiv1.ResourceSlice{}
@@ -87,9 +86,9 @@ func TestWriteBufferBatching(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestWriteBufferNoUpdates(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
+	ctx := testutil.NewContext(t)
 	cli := testutil.NewClient(t)
-	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, testr.New(t), 0, 1)
+	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, 0, 1)
 
 	// One resource slice w/ len of 3
 	slice := &apiv1.ResourceSlice{}
@@ -113,9 +112,9 @@ func TestWriteBufferNoUpdates(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestWriteBufferMissingSlice(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
+	ctx := testutil.NewContext(t)
 	cli := testutil.NewClient(t)
-	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, testr.New(t), 0, 1)
+	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, 0, 1)
 
 	req := &ManifestRef{}
 	req.Slice.Name = "test-slice-1" // this doesn't exist
@@ -128,14 +127,14 @@ func TestWriteBufferMissingSlice(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestWriteBufferNoChange(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
+	ctx := testutil.NewContext(t)
 	cli := testutil.NewClientWithInterceptors(t, &interceptor.Funcs{
 		SubResourceUpdate: func(ctx context.Context, client client.Client, subResourceName string, obj client.Object, opts ...client.SubResourceUpdateOption) error {
 			t.Fatal("should not have sent any status updates")
 			return nil
 		},
 	})
-	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, testr.New(t), 0, 1)
+	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, 0, 1)
 
 	// One resource slice
 	slice := &apiv1.ResourceSlice{}
@@ -155,13 +154,13 @@ func TestWriteBufferNoChange(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestWriteBufferUpdateError(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
+	ctx := testutil.NewContext(t)
 	cli := testutil.NewClientWithInterceptors(t, &interceptor.Funcs{
 		SubResourceUpdate: func(ctx context.Context, client client.Client, subResourceName string, obj client.Object, opts ...client.SubResourceUpdateOption) error {
 			return errors.New("could be any error")
 		},
 	})
-	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, testr.New(t), 0, 1)
+	w := newWriteBuffer(cli, 0, 1)
 
 	// One resource slice w/ len of 3
 	slice := &apiv1.ResourceSlice{}
diff --git a/internal/testutil/testutil.go b/internal/testutil/testutil.go
index baada427..c670b849 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/testutil.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/testutil.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"path/filepath"
+	goruntime "runtime"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -17,9 +18,9 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client/fake"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client/interceptor"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/envtest"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
 
 	apiv1 "github.com/Azure/eno/api/v1"
+	"github.com/Azure/eno/internal/manager"
 )
 
 func NewClient(t testing.TB) client.Client {
@@ -47,12 +48,16 @@ func NewContext(t *testing.T) context.Context {
 	t.Cleanup(func() {
 		cancel()
 	})
-	return logr.NewContext(ctx, testr.NewWithOptions(t, testr.Options{Verbosity: 99}))
+	return logr.NewContext(ctx, testr.NewWithOptions(t, testr.Options{Verbosity: 2}))
 }
 
 func NewManager(t *testing.T) *Manager {
+	_, b, _, _ := goruntime.Caller(0)
+	root := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(b), "..", "..")
+
 	env := &envtest.Environment{
-		CRDDirectoryPaths: []string{filepath.Join("..", "..", "api", "v1", "config", "crd")},
+		CRDDirectoryPaths:     []string{filepath.Join(root, "api", "v1", "config", "crd")},
+		ErrorIfCRDPathMissing: true,
 	}
 	t.Cleanup(func() {
 		err := env.Stop()
@@ -64,13 +69,7 @@ func NewManager(t *testing.T) *Manager {
 	cfg, err := env.Start()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	mgr, err := ctrl.NewManager(cfg, manager.Options{
-		Logger:      testr.New(t),
-		BaseContext: func() context.Context { return NewContext(t) },
-	})
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	err = apiv1.SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme(mgr.GetScheme())
+	mgr, err := manager.New(cfg, logr.FromContextOrDiscard(NewContext(t)))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	return &Manager{