diff --git a/tools/events/event_recorder.go b/tools/events/event_recorder.go
index 2837cc16..c824404e 100644
--- a/tools/events/event_recorder.go
+++ b/tools/events/event_recorder.go
@@ -48,9 +48,13 @@ func (recorder *recorderImpl) Eventf(regarding runtime.Object, related runtime.O
 		klog.Errorf("Could not construct reference to: '%#v' due to: '%v'. Will not report event: '%v' '%v' '%v'", regarding, err, eventtype, reason, message)
 		return
 	}
-	refRelated, err := reference.GetReference(recorder.scheme, related)
-	if err != nil {
-		klog.V(9).Infof("Could not construct reference to: '%#v' due to: '%v'.", related, err)
+
+	var refRelated *v1.ObjectReference
+	if related != nil {
+		refRelated, err = reference.GetReference(recorder.scheme, related)
+		if err != nil {
+			klog.V(9).Infof("Could not construct reference to: '%#v' due to: '%v'.", related, err)
+		}
 	}
 	if !util.ValidateEventType(eventtype) {
 		klog.Errorf("Unsupported event type: '%v'", eventtype)