diff --git a/azure/scope/managedcontrolplane.go b/azure/scope/managedcontrolplane.go
index 8aa40656d40..6bc8837fe4f 100644
--- a/azure/scope/managedcontrolplane.go
+++ b/azure/scope/managedcontrolplane.go
@@ -298,6 +298,9 @@ func (s *ManagedControlPlaneScope) VNetSpec() azure.ResourceSpecGetter {
 
 // AzureFleetsMemberSpec returns the fleet spec.
 func (s *ManagedControlPlaneScope) AzureFleetsMemberSpec() azure.ASOResourceSpecGetter[*asocontainerservicev1preview.FleetsMember] {
+	if s.AzureFleetMembership() == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return &fleetsmember.AzureFleetsMemberSpec{
 		Name:                 s.AzureFleetMembership().Name,
 		Namespace:            s.Cluster.Namespace,