diff --git a/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller.go b/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller.go
index 17a646bcfc32..78c5dc5d90e5 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller.go
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@ type Reconciler struct {
 }
 
 func (r *Reconciler) SetupWithManager(ctx context.Context, mgr ctrl.Manager, options controller.Options) error {
+	if r.Client == nil || r.APIReader == nil || r.ClusterCache == nil || r.RemoteConnectionGracePeriod == time.Duration(0) {
+		return errors.New("Client, APIReader and ClusterCache must not be nil and RemoteConnectionGracePeriod must not be 0")
+	}
+
 	predicateLog := ctrl.LoggerFrom(ctx).WithValues("controller", "cluster")
 	c, err := ctrl.NewControllerManagedBy(mgr).
 		For(&clusterv1.Cluster{}).
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machinehealthcheck/suite_test.go b/internal/controllers/machinehealthcheck/suite_test.go
index 69dc6beea760..85d4ef9b8bc4 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machinehealthcheck/suite_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machinehealthcheck/suite_test.go
@@ -93,9 +93,10 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 			SetConnectionCreationRetryInterval(2 * time.Second)
 
 		if err := (&clustercontroller.Reconciler{
-			Client:       mgr.GetClient(),
-			APIReader:    mgr.GetClient(),
-			ClusterCache: clusterCache,
+			Client:                      mgr.GetClient(),
+			APIReader:                   mgr.GetClient(),
+			ClusterCache:                clusterCache,
+			RemoteConnectionGracePeriod: 50 * time.Second,
 		}).SetupWithManager(ctx, mgr, controller.Options{MaxConcurrentReconciles: 1}); err != nil {
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to start ClusterReconciler: %v", err))
 		}