diff --git a/apps/kubevirt-networking/app/src/main/java/org/onosproject/kubevirtnetworking/util/KubevirtNetworkingUtil.java b/apps/kubevirt-networking/app/src/main/java/org/onosproject/kubevirtnetworking/util/KubevirtNetworkingUtil.java
index d9ea01e..db54054 100644
--- a/apps/kubevirt-networking/app/src/main/java/org/onosproject/kubevirtnetworking/util/KubevirtNetworkingUtil.java
+++ b/apps/kubevirt-networking/app/src/main/java/org/onosproject/kubevirtnetworking/util/KubevirtNetworkingUtil.java
@@ -262,6 +262,10 @@
                 return null;
             }
 
+            if (!annots.containsKey(NETWORK_STATUS_KEY)) {
+                return null;
+            }
+
             String networkStatusStr = annots.get(NETWORK_STATUS_KEY);
 
             if (networkStatusStr == null) {