diff --git a/pkg/api/helpers.go b/pkg/api/helpers.go
index ac11833b19a..a4e9aab3a7f 100644
--- a/pkg/api/helpers.go
+++ b/pkg/api/helpers.go
@@ -21,10 +21,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 func IsPullAlways(p PullPolicy) bool {
-	// Default to pull always
-	if len(p) == 0 {
-		return true
-	}
 	return pullPoliciesEqual(p, PullAlways)
 }
 
@@ -33,6 +29,10 @@ func IsPullNever(p PullPolicy) bool {
 }
 
 func IsPullIfNotPresent(p PullPolicy) bool {
+	// Default to pull if not present
+	if len(p) == 0 {
+		return true
+	}
 	return pullPoliciesEqual(p, PullIfNotPresent)
 }