diff --git a/internal/controllers/clusterextension_controller.go b/internal/controllers/clusterextension_controller.go
index 3f4c1d00d..d12816b46 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/clusterextension_controller.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/clusterextension_controller.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	mmsemver "github.com/Masterminds/semver/v3"
 	bsemver "github.com/blang/semver/v4"
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
+	crdupgradesafety "github.com/operator-framework/rukpak/pkg/preflights/crdupgradesafety"
 	"helm.sh/helm/v3/pkg/action"
 	"helm.sh/helm/v3/pkg/chart"
 	"helm.sh/helm/v3/pkg/chartutil"
@@ -64,7 +65,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/operator-framework/operator-registry/alpha/property"
 	rukpakv1alpha2 "github.com/operator-framework/rukpak/api/v1alpha2"
 	registryv1handler "github.com/operator-framework/rukpak/pkg/handler"
-	crdupgradesafety "github.com/operator-framework/rukpak/pkg/preflights/crdupgradesafety"
 	rukpaksource "github.com/operator-framework/rukpak/pkg/source"
 	"github.com/operator-framework/rukpak/pkg/storage"
 	"github.com/operator-framework/rukpak/pkg/util"
@@ -328,10 +328,12 @@ func (r *ClusterExtensionReconciler) reconcile(ctx context.Context, ext *ocv1alp
 	}
 
 	for _, preflight := range r.Preflights {
-		if _, ok := preflight.(*crdupgradesafety.Preflight); ok && ext.Spec.Preflight.CRDUpgradeSafety.Disabled {
-			// Skip this preflight check because it is of type *crdupgradesafety.Preflight and the CRD Upgrade Safety
-			// preflight check has been disabled
-			continue
+		if ext.Spec.Preflight != nil {
+			if _, ok := preflight.(*crdupgradesafety.Preflight); ok && ext.Spec.Preflight.CRDUpgradeSafety.Disabled {
+				// Skip this preflight check because it is of type *crdupgradesafety.Preflight and the CRD Upgrade Safety
+				// preflight check has been disabled
+				continue
+			}
 		}
 		switch state {
 		case stateNeedsInstall: