diff --git a/internal/kstatus/watcher/watcher_reference.go b/internal/kstatus/watcher/watcher_reference.go
index 9a7d5943..34ec6848 100644
--- a/internal/kstatus/watcher/watcher_reference.go
+++ b/internal/kstatus/watcher/watcher_reference.go
@@ -75,7 +75,9 @@ func (ir *watcherReference) Stop() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	ir.watcher.Stop()
+	if ir.watcher != nil {
+		ir.watcher.Stop()
+	}
 	ir.cancel()
 	ir.started = false
 	ir.context = nil