diff --git a/pkg/machinery/config/configloader/internal/decoder/selector.go b/pkg/machinery/config/configloader/internal/decoder/selector.go
index 752521740a..502bc35c28 100644
--- a/pkg/machinery/config/configloader/internal/decoder/selector.go
+++ b/pkg/machinery/config/configloader/internal/decoder/selector.go
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ func deleteForPath(val reflect.Value, path []string, key, value string) error {
 
 			if idx := val.MapIndex(searchForVal); idx.IsValid() {
 				if len(path) == 0 {
-					val.SetMapIndex(searchForVal, reflect.Zero(valType.Elem()))
+					val.SetMapIndex(searchForVal, reflect.Value{})
 
 					return nil
 				}
diff --git a/pkg/machinery/config/configpatcher/testdata/patchdelete/controlplane_expected.yaml b/pkg/machinery/config/configpatcher/testdata/patchdelete/controlplane_expected.yaml
index 87d6722672..86d4c306b4 100644
--- a/pkg/machinery/config/configpatcher/testdata/patchdelete/controlplane_expected.yaml
+++ b/pkg/machinery/config/configpatcher/testdata/patchdelete/controlplane_expected.yaml
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ machine:
         hostDNS:
             enabled: true
             forwardKubeDNSToHost: true
-    nodeLabels:
-        node.kubernetes.io/exclude-from-external-load-balancers: ""
 cluster:
     id: 0raF93qnkMvF-FZNuvyGozXNdLiT2FOWSlyBaW4PR-w=
     secret: pofHbABZq7VXuObsdLdy/bHmz6hlMHZ3p8+6WKrv1ic=
diff --git a/pkg/machinery/config/configpatcher/testdata/patchdelete/strategic2.yaml b/pkg/machinery/config/configpatcher/testdata/patchdelete/strategic2.yaml
index b1db44b65e..496c6994b1 100644
--- a/pkg/machinery/config/configpatcher/testdata/patchdelete/strategic2.yaml
+++ b/pkg/machinery/config/configpatcher/testdata/patchdelete/strategic2.yaml
@@ -4,3 +4,7 @@ cluster:
     admissionControl:
     - name: PodSecurity
       $patch: delete
+machine:
+  nodeLabels:
+    node.kubernetes.io/exclude-from-external-load-balancers:
+      $patch: delete