diff --git a/tools/leaderelection/resourcelock/leaselock_test.go b/tools/leaderelection/resourcelock/leaselock_test.go
index 072ed4b5..f30bcfe2 100644
--- a/tools/leaderelection/resourcelock/leaselock_test.go
+++ b/tools/leaderelection/resourcelock/leaselock_test.go
@@ -278,6 +278,8 @@ func TestUpdateWithNilLabelsOnLease(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to get lease: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	leaseLock.lease.Labels = nil
+
 	leaseLock.Labels = map[string]string{"custom-key": "custom-val"}
 
 	// Update should succeed even with nil Labels on the lease itself
@@ -286,7 +288,6 @@ func TestUpdateWithNilLabelsOnLease(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-
 func TestUpdateWithNilLabelsOnLeaseLock(t *testing.T) {
 	setup()
 
@@ -299,6 +300,8 @@ func TestUpdateWithNilLabelsOnLeaseLock(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to get lease: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	leaseLock.Labels = nil
+
 	leaseLock.lease.Labels = map[string]string{"custom-key": "custom-val"}
 
 	// Update should succeed even with nil Labels on the leaselock
@@ -371,4 +374,4 @@ func TestLabelUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	if val != "custom-val-2" {
 		t.Errorf("Label value mismatch, got %q want %q", val, "custom-val-2")
 	}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}