diff --git a/pkg/scheduler/internal/queue/scheduling_queue.go b/pkg/scheduler/internal/queue/scheduling_queue.go
index dd1df58c128..e4727d55025 100644
--- a/pkg/scheduler/internal/queue/scheduling_queue.go
+++ b/pkg/scheduler/internal/queue/scheduling_queue.go
@@ -59,9 +59,6 @@ const (
 	// backoffQ or activeQ. If this value is empty, the default value (5min)
 	// will be used.
 	DefaultPodMaxInUnschedulablePodsDuration time.Duration = 5 * time.Minute
-
-	queueClosed = "scheduling queue is closed"
-
 	// Scheduling queue names
 	activeQName       = "Active"
 	backoffQName      = "Backoff"
@@ -601,7 +598,8 @@ func (p *PriorityQueue) Pop() (*framework.QueuedPodInfo, error) {
 		// When Close() is called, the p.closed is set and the condition is broadcast,
 		// which causes this loop to continue and return from the Pop().
 		if p.closed {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf(queueClosed)
+			klog.V(2).InfoS("Scheduling queue is closed")
+			return nil, nil
 		}
 		p.cond.Wait()
 	}
@@ -1130,14 +1128,15 @@ func newPodNominator(podLister listersv1.PodLister) *nominator {
 func MakeNextPodFunc(logger klog.Logger, queue SchedulingQueue) func() *framework.QueuedPodInfo {
 	return func() *framework.QueuedPodInfo {
 		podInfo, err := queue.Pop()
-		if err == nil {
+		if err == nil && podInfo != nil {
 			logger.V(4).Info("About to try and schedule pod", "pod", klog.KObj(podInfo.Pod))
 			for plugin := range podInfo.UnschedulablePlugins {
 				metrics.UnschedulableReason(plugin, podInfo.Pod.Spec.SchedulerName).Dec()
 			}
 			return podInfo
+		} else if err != nil {
+			logger.Error(err, "Error while retrieving next pod from scheduling queue")
 		}
-		logger.Error(err, "Error while retrieving next pod from scheduling queue")
 		return nil
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/scheduler/internal/queue/scheduling_queue_test.go b/pkg/scheduler/internal/queue/scheduling_queue_test.go
index da78a8a2410..08f482b1646 100644
--- a/pkg/scheduler/internal/queue/scheduling_queue_test.go
+++ b/pkg/scheduler/internal/queue/scheduling_queue_test.go
@@ -1100,14 +1100,13 @@ func TestSchedulingQueue_Close(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer cancel()
 	q := NewTestQueue(ctx, newDefaultQueueSort())
-	wantErr := fmt.Errorf(queueClosed)
 	wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
 	wg.Add(1)
 	go func() {
 		defer wg.Done()
 		pod, err := q.Pop()
-		if err.Error() != wantErr.Error() {
-			t.Errorf("Expected err %q from Pop() if queue is closed, but got %q", wantErr.Error(), err.Error())
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Expected nil err from Pop() if queue is closed, but got %q", err.Error())
 		}
 		if pod != nil {
 			t.Errorf("Expected pod nil from Pop() if queue is closed, but got: %v", pod)