diff --git a/internal/helm/controller/reconcile.go b/internal/helm/controller/reconcile.go
index edba053458d..fb0e56d692b 100644
--- a/internal/helm/controller/reconcile.go
+++ b/internal/helm/controller/reconcile.go
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func (r HelmOperatorReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, request reconcile
 			log.Info("Release not found, removing finalizer")
 		} else {
 			log.Info("Uninstalled release")
-			if log.V(0).Enabled() {
+			if log.V(0).Enabled() && uninstalledRelease != nil {
 				fmt.Println(diff.Generate(uninstalledRelease.Manifest, ""))
 			}
 			status.SetCondition(types.HelmAppCondition{
diff --git a/internal/helm/release/manager.go b/internal/helm/release/manager.go
index f6b671b9335..d72c2a0c0c5 100644
--- a/internal/helm/release/manager.go
+++ b/internal/helm/release/manager.go
@@ -370,5 +370,8 @@ func (m manager) UninstallRelease(ctx context.Context, opts ...UninstallOption)
 		}
 	}
 	uninstallResponse, err := uninstall.Run(m.releaseName)
+	if uninstallResponse == nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	return uninstallResponse.Release, err
 }