diff --git a/protocol-models/src/main/java/io/airbyte/protocol/models/CatalogHelpers.java b/protocol-models/src/main/java/io/airbyte/protocol/models/CatalogHelpers.java
index df9c624..6756a3f 100644
--- a/protocol-models/src/main/java/io/airbyte/protocol/models/CatalogHelpers.java
+++ b/protocol-models/src/main/java/io/airbyte/protocol/models/CatalogHelpers.java
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ public static Set<StreamTransform> getCatalogDiff(final AirbyteCatalog oldCatalo
                   && s.getStream().getName().equals(descriptor.getName()))
               .findFirst();
 
-          if (!streamOld.equals(streamNew)) {
+          if (!streamOld.equals(streamNew) && stream.isPresent()) {
             // getStreamDiff only checks for differences in the stream's field name or field type
             // but there are a number of reasons the streams might be different (such as a source-defined
             // primary key or cursor changing). These should not be expressed as "stream updates".
diff --git a/protocol-models/src/test/java/io/airbyte/protocol/models/CatalogHelpersTest.java b/protocol-models/src/test/java/io/airbyte/protocol/models/CatalogHelpersTest.java
index 97bde7a..63ba490 100644
--- a/protocol-models/src/test/java/io/airbyte/protocol/models/CatalogHelpersTest.java
+++ b/protocol-models/src/test/java/io/airbyte/protocol/models/CatalogHelpersTest.java
@@ -278,13 +278,8 @@ void testCatalogDiffWithoutStreamConfig() throws IOException {
 
     final Set<StreamTransform> diff = CatalogHelpers.getCatalogDiff(catalog1, catalog2, configuredAirbyteCatalog);
 
-    final List<StreamTransform> expectedDiff = Stream.of(
-        StreamTransform.createUpdateStreamTransform(new StreamDescriptor().withName(USERS), new UpdateStreamTransform(Set.of(
-            FieldTransform.createRemoveFieldTransform(List.of(DATE), schema1.get(PROPERTIES).get(DATE), false),
-            FieldTransform.createRemoveFieldTransform(List.of("id"), schema1.get(PROPERTIES).get("id"), false)))))
-        .toList();
-
-    Assertions.assertThat(diff).containsAll(expectedDiff);
+    //configuredCatalog is for a different stream, so no diff should be found
+    Assertions.assertThat(diff).hasSize(0);
   }
 
   @Test