diff --git a/src/pepr/operator/controllers/network/generators/kubeNodes.ts b/src/pepr/operator/controllers/network/generators/kubeNodes.ts
index 6719dc6e9..25a1e936f 100644
--- a/src/pepr/operator/controllers/network/generators/kubeNodes.ts
+++ b/src/pepr/operator/controllers/network/generators/kubeNodes.ts
@@ -56,9 +56,13 @@ export async function updateKubeNodesFromCreateUpdate(node: kind.Node) {
     (condition: V1NodeCondition) => condition.type === "Ready" && condition.status === "True",
   );
 
+  const ip = getNodeInternalIP(node);
   if (isReady) {
-    const ip = getNodeInternalIP(node);
     if (ip) nodeSet.add(ip);
+  } else {
+    // it's possible that the node is not ready, but it has an IP, so we remove
+    // it for now
+    if (ip) nodeSet.delete(ip);
   }
 
   await updateKubeNodesNetworkPolicies();