There is disclosed an assembly for a gas turbine engine that includes a bearing housing circumferentially extending around a central axis thereof and delimiting a bearing cavity for receiving a bearing therein. A controlled gap seal is secured to the bearing housing, the controlled gap seal including a ring and a runner, the runner rotatable relative to the ring about the central axis, the runner spaced apart from the ring by a gap. The gap defines a fluid passage between the bearing cavity and an environment outside the bearing cavity. At least one baffle is secured to a surface of the bearing housing oriented toward the bearing cavity. The at least one baffle is a fin protruding from the surface and extending into the bearing cavity. The at least one baffle disrupts a cylindricality of the surface. A method of operating the bearing assembly is also disclosed.