diff --git a/pkg/controller/endpointslice/endpointslice_controller.go b/pkg/controller/endpointslice/endpointslice_controller.go
index d023b8347cb..c7abb0cee2b 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/endpointslice/endpointslice_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/endpointslice/endpointslice_controller.go
@@ -539,6 +539,7 @@ func (c *Controller) checkNodeTopologyDistribution() {
 	nodes, err := c.nodeLister.List(labels.Everything())
 	if err != nil {
 		klog.Errorf("Error listing Nodes: %v", err)
+		return
 	}
 	c.topologyCache.SetNodes(nodes)
 	serviceKeys := c.topologyCache.GetOverloadedServices()