diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/8271-mcluseau b/changelogs/unreleased/8271-mcluseau
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..189d797bc89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/8271-mcluseau
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+fix(pkg/repository/maintenance): don't panic when there's no container statuses
diff --git a/pkg/repository/maintenance.go b/pkg/repository/maintenance.go
index 1a137cba90e..7105c8315d5 100644
--- a/pkg/repository/maintenance.go
+++ b/pkg/repository/maintenance.go
@@ -117,7 +117,15 @@ func GetMaintenanceResultFromJob(cli client.Client, job *batchv1.Job) (string, e
 	}
 
 	// we only have one maintenance pod for the job
-	return podList.Items[0].Status.ContainerStatuses[0].State.Terminated.Message, nil
+	pod := podList.Items[0]
+
+	statuses := pod.Status.ContainerStatuses
+	if len(statuses) == 0 {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("no container statuses found for job %s", job.Name)
+	}
+
+	// we only have one maintenance container
+	return statuses[0].State.Terminated.Message, nil
 }
 
 func GetLatestMaintenanceJob(cli client.Client, ns string) (*batchv1.Job, error) {