diff --git a/pennylane_lightning/lightning_kokkos/_state_vector.py b/pennylane_lightning/lightning_kokkos/_state_vector.py
index 1dd1d95af..46c3be574 100644
--- a/pennylane_lightning/lightning_kokkos/_state_vector.py
+++ b/pennylane_lightning/lightning_kokkos/_state_vector.py
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ def _apply_lightning(
                 param = operation.parameters
                 method(wires, invert_param, param)
             elif (
-                isinstance(operation, qml.ops.Controlled) and len(wires) == 1
+                isinstance(operation, qml.ops.Controlled) and not isinstance(operation.base, (qml.QubitUnitary, qml.BlockEncode))
             ):  # apply n-controlled gate
                 self._apply_lightning_controlled(operation)
             else:  # apply gate as a matrix