diff --git a/pkg/controllers/report/admission/controller.go b/pkg/controllers/report/admission/controller.go
index 8be8912b27..23f5ffa3fd 100644
--- a/pkg/controllers/report/admission/controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controllers/report/admission/controller.go
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func (c *controller) aggregateReports(ctx context.Context, uid types.UID) (kyver
 	}
 	// if we have an aggregated report available, compute results
 	var errs []error
-	if aggregated != nil {
+	if aggregated != nil && len(aggregated.GetOwnerReferences()) != 0 {
 		owner := aggregated.GetOwnerReferences()[0]
 		resource := corev1.ObjectReference{
 			APIVersion: owner.APIVersion,