diff --git a/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/apply_cluster.go b/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/apply_cluster.go
index 411cb4a181..4afaebb9f2 100644
--- a/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/apply_cluster.go
+++ b/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/apply_cluster.go
@@ -863,6 +863,11 @@ func (c *ApplyClusterCmd) validateKopsVersion() error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if c.channel == nil {
+		klog.Warning("channel unavailable, skipping version validation")
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	versionInfo := kops.FindKopsVersionSpec(c.channel.Spec.KopsVersions, kopsVersion)
 	if versionInfo == nil {
 		klog.Warningf("unable to find version information for kops version %q in channel", kopsVersion)
@@ -975,6 +980,11 @@ func (c *ApplyClusterCmd) validateKubernetesVersion() error {
 	// TODO: make util.ParseKubernetesVersion not return a pointer
 	kubernetesVersion := *parsed
 
+	if c.channel == nil {
+		klog.Warning("unable to load channel, skipping kubernetes version recommendation/requirements checks")
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	versionInfo := kops.FindKubernetesVersionSpec(c.channel.Spec.KubernetesVersions, kubernetesVersion)
 	if versionInfo == nil {
 		klog.Warningf("unable to find version information for kubernetes version %q in channel", kubernetesVersion)