diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/exec/exec.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/exec/exec.go
index ca47976ce8f..d664ae3c573 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/exec/exec.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/exec/exec.go
@@ -411,6 +411,10 @@ type terminalSizeQueueAdapter struct {
 }
 
 func (a *terminalSizeQueueAdapter) Next() *remotecommand.TerminalSize {
+	if a.delegate == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	next := a.delegate.Next()
 	if next == nil {
 		return nil