diff --git a/test/infrastructure/docker/internal/controllers/dockermachine_controller.go b/test/infrastructure/docker/internal/controllers/dockermachine_controller.go
index c54fffda7b83..f24c0bd5b6ba 100644
--- a/test/infrastructure/docker/internal/controllers/dockermachine_controller.go
+++ b/test/infrastructure/docker/internal/controllers/dockermachine_controller.go
@@ -119,6 +119,11 @@ func (r *DockerMachineReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Reques
 		return ctrl.Result{}, nil
 	}
 
+	if cluster.Spec.InfrastructureRef == nil {
+		log.Info("Cluster infrastructureRef is not available yet")
+		return ctrl.Result{}, nil
+	}
+
 	// Fetch the Docker Cluster.
 	dockerCluster := &infrav1.DockerCluster{}
 	dockerClusterName := client.ObjectKey{