diff --git a/test/infrastructure/docker/docker/loadbalancer.go b/test/infrastructure/docker/docker/loadbalancer.go
index c65d0e1fa1e4..79ff172d013a 100644
--- a/test/infrastructure/docker/docker/loadbalancer.go
+++ b/test/infrastructure/docker/docker/loadbalancer.go
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ func NewLoadBalancer(name string) (*LoadBalancer, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("name is required when creating a docker.LoadBalancer")
 	}
 
+	// look for the container that is hosting the loadbalancer for the cluster.
+	// filter based on the lablel and the roles regardless of whether or not it is running.
+	// if non-running container is chosen, then it will not have an IP address associated with it.
 	container, err := getContainer(
 		withLabel(clusterLabel(name)),
 		withLabel(roleLabel(constants.ExternalLoadBalancerNodeRoleValue)),
@@ -137,6 +140,10 @@ func (s *LoadBalancer) IP(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
+	if lbip4 == "" {
+		// if there is a load balancer container with the same name exists but is stopped, it may not have IP address associated with it.
+		return "", errors.Errorf("LoadBalancer IP cannot be empty: container %s does not have an associated IP address", s.containerName())
+	}
 	return lbip4, nil
 }