diff --git a/pkg/controller/service/controller_test.go b/pkg/controller/service/controller_test.go
index ab0da4aaa30..c08ea363ec7 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/service/controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/service/controller_test.go
@@ -345,23 +345,22 @@ func TestSyncLoadBalancerIfNeeded(t *testing.T) {
 				if !createCallFound {
 					t.Errorf("Got no create call for load balancer, expected one")
 				}
-				// TODO(@MrHohn): Clean up the awkward pattern here.
-				var balancer *fakecloud.Balancer
-				for k := range cloud.Balancers {
-					if balancer == nil {
-						b := cloud.Balancers[k]
-						balancer = &b
-					} else {
-						t.Errorf("Got load balancer %v, expected one to be created", cloud.Balancers)
+
+				var isFound bool
+				for _, balancer := range cloud.Balancers {
+					if !reflect.DeepEqual(balancer, fakecloud.Balancer{}) {
+						isFound = true
+						if balancer.Name != controller.balancer.GetLoadBalancerName(context.Background(), "", tc.service) ||
+							balancer.Region != region ||
+							balancer.Ports[0].Port != tc.service.Spec.Ports[0].Port {
+							t.Errorf("Created load balancer has incorrect parameters: %v", balancer)
+						}
 						break
 					}
 				}
-				if balancer == nil {
-					t.Errorf("Got no load balancer, expected one to be created")
-				} else if balancer.Name != controller.balancer.GetLoadBalancerName(context.Background(), "", tc.service) ||
-					balancer.Region != region ||
-					balancer.Ports[0].Port != tc.service.Spec.Ports[0].Port {
-					t.Errorf("Created load balancer has incorrect parameters: %v", balancer)
+
+				if !isFound {
+					t.Errorf("Got no load balancer: %v, expected one to be created", cloud.Balancers)
 				}
 			}
 			if tc.expectDeleteAttempt {
@@ -472,8 +471,8 @@ func TestUpdateNodesInExternalLoadBalancer(t *testing.T) {
 		var services []*v1.Service
 		services = append(services, item.services...)
 
-		if err := controller.updateLoadBalancerHosts(services, nodes); err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+		if servicesToRetry := controller.updateLoadBalancerHosts(services, nodes); servicesToRetry != nil {
+			t.Errorf("unexpected servicesToRetry: %v", servicesToRetry)
 		}
 		if !reflect.DeepEqual(item.expectedUpdateCalls, cloud.UpdateCalls) {
 			t.Errorf("expected update calls mismatch, expected %+v, got %+v", item.expectedUpdateCalls, cloud.UpdateCalls)