diff --git a/cluster-autoscaler/expander/grpcplugin/grpc_client.go b/cluster-autoscaler/expander/grpcplugin/grpc_client.go
index b31de9fa4020..ddb6243b0986 100644
--- a/cluster-autoscaler/expander/grpcplugin/grpc_client.go
+++ b/cluster-autoscaler/expander/grpcplugin/grpc_client.go
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ func (g *grpcclientstrategy) BestOptions(expansionOptions []expander.Option, nod
 		klog.V(4).Info("GRPC returned nil bestOptions, no options filtered")
 		return expansionOptions
 	}
+	if len(bestOptionsResponse.Options) == 0 {
+		// best options is intentionally empty
+		return nil
+	}
 	// Transform back options slice
 	options := transformAndSanitizeOptionsFromGRPC(bestOptionsResponse.Options, nodeGroupIDOptionMap)
 	if options == nil {
diff --git a/cluster-autoscaler/expander/grpcplugin/grpc_client_test.go b/cluster-autoscaler/expander/grpcplugin/grpc_client_test.go
index 65b94a17d54b..5c0c800c4de6 100644
--- a/cluster-autoscaler/expander/grpcplugin/grpc_client_test.go
+++ b/cluster-autoscaler/expander/grpcplugin/grpc_client_test.go
@@ -197,6 +197,31 @@ func TestBestOptionsValid(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, resp, []expander.Option{eoT3Large})
 }
 
+func TestBestOptionsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
+	defer ctrl.Finish()
+	mockClient := mocks.NewMockExpanderClient(ctrl)
+	g := &grpcclientstrategy{mockClient}
+
+	nodeInfos := makeFakeNodeInfos()
+	grpcNodeInfoMap := make(map[string]*v1.Node)
+	for i, opt := range options {
+		grpcNodeInfoMap[opt.NodeGroup.Id()] = nodes[i]
+	}
+	expectedBestOptionsReq := &protos.BestOptionsRequest{
+		Options: []*protos.Option{&grpcEoT2Micro, &grpcEoT2Large, &grpcEoT3Large, &grpcEoM44XLarge},
+		NodeMap: grpcNodeInfoMap,
+	}
+
+	mockClient.EXPECT().BestOptions(
+		gomock.Any(), gomock.Eq(expectedBestOptionsReq),
+	).Return(&protos.BestOptionsResponse{Options: []*protos.Option{}}, nil)
+
+	resp := g.BestOptions(options, nodeInfos)
+
+	assert.Empty(t, resp)
+}
+
 // All test cases should error, and no options should be filtered
 func TestBestOptionsErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)