diff --git a/pkg/controller/gc.go b/pkg/controller/gc.go
index 327eb82c1c5..e80817b7f7e 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/gc.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/gc.go
@@ -501,11 +501,15 @@ func (c *Controller) gcLoadBalancer() error {
 				return nil
 			}
 
-			lb, err := c.ovnClient.GetLoadBalancer(lbName, false)
+			lb, err := c.ovnClient.GetLoadBalancer(lbName, true)
 			if err != nil {
 				klog.Errorf("get LB %s: %v", lbName, err)
 				return err
 			}
+			if lb == nil {
+				klog.Infof("load balancer %q not found", lbName)
+				return nil
+			}
 
 			for vip := range lb.Vips {
 				if !svcVips.Has(vip) {