diff --git a/pkg/apis/meta/v1/validation/validation.go b/pkg/apis/meta/v1/validation/validation.go
index 2743793dd..fcd491f4c 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/meta/v1/validation/validation.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/meta/v1/validation/validation.go
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ func ValidateManagedFields(fieldsList []metav1.ManagedFieldsEntry, fldPath *fiel
 		default:
 			allErrs = append(allErrs, field.Invalid(fldPath.Child("operation"), fields.Operation, "must be `Apply` or `Update`"))
 		}
-		if fields.FieldsType != "FieldsV1" {
+		if len(fields.FieldsType) > 0 && fields.FieldsType != "FieldsV1" {
 			allErrs = append(allErrs, field.Invalid(fldPath.Child("fieldsType"), fields.FieldsType, "must be `FieldsV1`"))
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/apis/meta/v1/validation/validation_test.go b/pkg/apis/meta/v1/validation/validation_test.go
index 30d6289f8..aa71a600a 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/meta/v1/validation/validation_test.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/meta/v1/validation/validation_test.go
@@ -242,12 +242,8 @@ func TestValidateFieldManagerInvalid(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestValidateMangedFieldsInvalid(t *testing.T) {
+func TestValidateManagedFieldsInvalid(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []metav1.ManagedFieldsEntry{
-		{
-			Operation: metav1.ManagedFieldsOperationUpdate,
-			// FieldsType is missing
-		},
 		{
 			Operation:  metav1.ManagedFieldsOperationUpdate,
 			FieldsType: "RandomVersion",
@@ -274,6 +270,10 @@ func TestValidateMangedFieldsInvalid(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestValidateMangedFieldsValid(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []metav1.ManagedFieldsEntry{
+		{
+			Operation: metav1.ManagedFieldsOperationUpdate,
+			// FieldsType is missing
+		},
 		{
 			Operation:  metav1.ManagedFieldsOperationUpdate,
 			FieldsType: "FieldsV1",