diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kuberuntime/kuberuntime_manager.go b/pkg/kubelet/kuberuntime/kuberuntime_manager.go
index 49cad688cb2..8dee580344e 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kuberuntime/kuberuntime_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kuberuntime/kuberuntime_manager.go
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ func (m *kubeGenericRuntimeManager) podSandboxChanged(pod *v1.Pod, podStatus *ku
 	}
 
 	// Needs to create a new sandbox when the sandbox does not have an IP address.
-	if !kubecontainer.IsHostNetworkPod(pod) && sandboxStatus.Network.Ip == "" {
+	if !kubecontainer.IsHostNetworkPod(pod) && sandboxStatus.Network != nil && sandboxStatus.Network.Ip == "" {
 		klog.V(2).InfoS("Sandbox for pod has no IP address. Need to start a new one", "pod", klog.KObj(pod))
 		return true, sandboxStatus.Metadata.Attempt + 1, sandboxStatus.Id
 	}