diff --git a/pkg/ipam/subnet.go b/pkg/ipam/subnet.go
index 3d6d978067b..a0fd1aa390a 100644
--- a/pkg/ipam/subnet.go
+++ b/pkg/ipam/subnet.go
@@ -159,6 +159,9 @@ func (subnet *Subnet) pushPodNic(podName, nicName string) {
 
 func (subnet *Subnet) popPodNic(podName, nicName string) {
 	subnet.PodToNicList[podName] = util.RemoveString(subnet.PodToNicList[podName], nicName)
+	if subnet.PodToNicList[podName] == nil {
+		delete(subnet.PodToNicList, podName)
+	}
 }
 
 func (subnet *Subnet) GetRandomAddress(podName, nicName string, mac string, skippedAddrs []string, checkConflict bool) (IP, IP, string, error) {