diff --git a/cmd/kops/create.go b/cmd/kops/create.go
index f09610fed4..73bf267bcc 100644
--- a/cmd/kops/create.go
+++ b/cmd/kops/create.go
@@ -176,6 +176,10 @@ func RunCreate(f *util.Factory, out io.Writer, c *CreateOptions) error {
 					return fmt.Errorf("error querying cluster %q: %v", clusterName, err)
 				}
 
+				if cluster == nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("cluster %q not found", clusterName)
+				}
+
 				_, err = clientset.InstanceGroupsFor(cluster).Create(v)
 				if err != nil {
 					if apierrors.IsAlreadyExists(err) {
diff --git a/cmd/kops/get_instancegroups.go b/cmd/kops/get_instancegroups.go
index f83837214b..6c42caba34 100644
--- a/cmd/kops/get_instancegroups.go
+++ b/cmd/kops/get_instancegroups.go
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ func RunGetInstanceGroups(options *GetInstanceGroupsOptions, args []string) erro
 		return fmt.Errorf("error fetching cluster %q: %v", clusterName, err)
 	}
 
+	if cluster == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cluster %q was not found", clusterName)
+	}
+
 	list, err := clientset.InstanceGroupsFor(cluster).List(metav1.ListOptions{})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/cmd/kops/replace.go b/cmd/kops/replace.go
index 90ceae823f..f6153c8ae0 100644
--- a/cmd/kops/replace.go
+++ b/cmd/kops/replace.go
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ func RunReplace(f *util.Factory, cmd *cobra.Command, out io.Writer, c *ReplaceOp
 				if err != nil {
 					return fmt.Errorf("error fetching cluster %q: %v", clusterName, err)
 				}
+				if cluster == nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("cluster %q not found", clusterName)
+				}
 				_, err = clientset.InstanceGroupsFor(cluster).Update(v)
 				if err != nil {
 					return fmt.Errorf("error replacing instanceGroup: %v", err)
diff --git a/cmd/kops/toolbox_convert_imported.go b/cmd/kops/toolbox_convert_imported.go
index c027ce7cc6..4d36988458 100644
--- a/cmd/kops/toolbox_convert_imported.go
+++ b/cmd/kops/toolbox_convert_imported.go
@@ -104,6 +104,10 @@ func RunToolboxConvertImported(f *util.Factory, out io.Writer, options *ToolboxC
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if cluster == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cluster %q not found", options.ClusterName)
+	}
+
 	list, err := clientset.InstanceGroupsFor(cluster).List(metav1.ListOptions{})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/federation/apply_federation.go b/federation/apply_federation.go
index d8a25d9ae1..9959b44c97 100644
--- a/federation/apply_federation.go
+++ b/federation/apply_federation.go
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ func (o *ApplyFederationOperation) FindKubecfg() (*kubeconfig.KubeconfigBuilder,
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("error reading cluster %q: %v", controller, err)
 		}
+		if cluster == nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cluster %q not found", controller)
+		}
 
 		context, err := o.federationContextForCluster(cluster)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -120,6 +123,9 @@ func (o *ApplyFederationOperation) Run() error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error reading cluster %q: %v", controller, err)
 		}
+		if cluster == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cluster %q not found", controller)
+		}
 
 		context, err := o.federationContextForCluster(cluster)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -154,6 +160,9 @@ func (o *ApplyFederationOperation) Run() error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error reading cluster %q: %v", member, err)
 		}
+		if cluster == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cluster %q not found", member)
+		}
 
 		clusterName := strings.Replace(cluster.Name, ".", "-", -1)