diff --git a/pkg/util/worker.go b/pkg/util/worker.go
index 6da7affd0..b9347e6fc 100644
--- a/pkg/util/worker.go
+++ b/pkg/util/worker.go
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ func (w *asyncWorker) EnqueueRateLimited(obj runtime.Object) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	if key == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
 	w.AddRateLimited(key)
 }