diff --git a/kroxylicious-systemtests/src/main/java/io/kroxylicious/systemtests/resources/manager/ResourceManager.java b/kroxylicious-systemtests/src/main/java/io/kroxylicious/systemtests/resources/manager/ResourceManager.java
index af21e7024e..2827e78339 100644
--- a/kroxylicious-systemtests/src/main/java/io/kroxylicious/systemtests/resources/manager/ResourceManager.java
+++ b/kroxylicious-systemtests/src/main/java/io/kroxylicious/systemtests/resources/manager/ResourceManager.java
@@ -239,10 +239,17 @@ private <T extends HasMetadata> ResourceType<T> findResourceType(T resource) {
 
         TestUtils.waitFor(String.format("%s: %s#%s will have desired state 'Ready'", kind, namespace, name),
                 Constants.POLL_INTERVAL_FOR_RESOURCE_READINESS_MILLIS, resourceTimeoutMs,
-                () -> operation.inNamespace(namespace)
-                        .withName(name)
-                        .get().getStatus().getConditions().stream()
-                        .anyMatch(condition -> condition.getType().equals("Ready") && condition.getStatus().equals(conditionStatus.toString())));
+                () -> {
+                    final Status status = operation.inNamespace(namespace)
+                            .withName(name)
+                            .get()
+                            .getStatus();
+                    if (status != null) {
+                        return status.getConditions().stream()
+                                .anyMatch(condition -> condition.getType().equals("Ready") && condition.getStatus().equals(conditionStatus.toString()));
+                    }
+                    return false;
+                });
 
         LOGGER.info("{}: {}/{} is in desired state 'Ready'", kind, namespace, name);
         return true;
@@ -260,4 +267,4 @@ private <T extends HasMetadata> ResourceType<T> findResourceType(T resource) {
         long resourceTimeout = ResourceOperation.getTimeoutForResourceReadiness(resource.getKind());
         return waitForResourceStatusReady(operation, resource, resourceTimeout);
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kroxylicious-systemtests/src/main/java/io/kroxylicious/systemtests/utils/KafkaUtils.java b/kroxylicious-systemtests/src/main/java/io/kroxylicious/systemtests/utils/KafkaUtils.java
index 8227540a97..882639ea56 100644
--- a/kroxylicious-systemtests/src/main/java/io/kroxylicious/systemtests/utils/KafkaUtils.java
+++ b/kroxylicious-systemtests/src/main/java/io/kroxylicious/systemtests/utils/KafkaUtils.java
@@ -180,18 +180,30 @@ private static InputStream replaceStringInResourceFile(String resourceTemplateFi
      */
     public static boolean restartBroker(String deployNamespace, String clusterName) {
         String podName = "";
+        String podUid = "";
         List<Pod> kafkaPods = kubeClient().listPods(Constants.KROXY_DEFAULT_NAMESPACE);
         for (Pod pod : kafkaPods) {
             String tmpName = pod.getMetadata().getName();
             if (tmpName.startsWith(clusterName) && tmpName.endsWith("0")) {
                 podName = pod.getMetadata().getName();
+                podUid = pod.getMetadata().getUid();
+                break;
             }
         }
-        String podUid = kubeClient().getPod(deployNamespace, podName).getMetadata().getUid();
         kubeClient().getClient().pods().inNamespace(deployNamespace).withName(podName).withGracePeriod(0).delete();
         kubeClient().getClient().pods().inNamespace(deployNamespace).withName(podName).waitUntilCondition(Objects::isNull, 60, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
         String finalPodName = podName;
         await().atMost(Duration.ofMinutes(1)).until(() -> kubeClient().getClient().pods().inNamespace(deployNamespace).withName(finalPodName) != null);
-        return !Objects.equals(podUid, kubeClient().getPod(deployNamespace, podName).getMetadata().getUid());
+        return !Objects.equals(podUid, getPodUid(deployNamespace, podName));
     }
-}
+
+    private static String getPodUid(String deployNamespace, String podName) {
+        final Pod pod = kubeClient().getPod(deployNamespace, podName);
+        if (pod != null) {
+            return pod.getMetadata().getUid();
+        }
+        else {
+            return "";
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file