diff --git a/pkg/storage/watch_cache.go b/pkg/storage/watch_cache.go
index 196e35e0cb8..391e9138e97 100644
--- a/pkg/storage/watch_cache.go
+++ b/pkg/storage/watch_cache.go
@@ -166,8 +166,6 @@ func (w *watchCache) processEvent(event watch.Event, resourceVersion uint64, upd
 	var prevObject runtime.Object
 	if exists {
 		prevObject = previous.(runtime.Object)
-	} else {
-		prevObject = nil
 	}
 	watchCacheEvent := watchCacheEvent{event.Type, event.Object, prevObject}
 	if w.onEvent != nil {