diff --git a/addons/agent_mirrorpeer_controller.go b/addons/agent_mirrorpeer_controller.go
index a85b2dce..07e479d1 100644
--- a/addons/agent_mirrorpeer_controller.go
+++ b/addons/agent_mirrorpeer_controller.go
@@ -417,11 +417,12 @@ func (r *MirrorPeerReconciler) toggleMirroring(ctx context.Context, storageClust
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if sc.Spec.Mirroring == nil {
+		sc.Spec.Mirroring = &ocsv1.MirroringSpec{}
+	}
+
 	// Determine if mirroring should be enabled or disabled
 	if enabled {
-		if sc.Spec.Mirroring == nil {
-			sc.Spec.Mirroring = &ocsv1.MirroringSpec{}
-		}
 		oppPeers := getOppositePeerRefs(mp, r.SpokeClusterName)
 		if hasRequiredSecret(sc.Spec.Mirroring.PeerSecretNames, oppPeers) {
 			sc.Spec.Mirroring.Enabled = true
@@ -430,7 +431,7 @@ func (r *MirrorPeerReconciler) toggleMirroring(ctx context.Context, storageClust
 			return fmt.Errorf("StorageCluster %q does not have required PeerSecrets", storageClusterName)
 		}
 	} else {
-		sc.Spec.Mirroring = nil
+		sc.Spec.Mirroring.Enabled = false
 		r.Logger.Info("Mirroring disabled on StorageCluster", "storageClusterName", storageClusterName)
 	}
 
diff --git a/addons/agent_mirrorpeer_controller_test.go b/addons/agent_mirrorpeer_controller_test.go
index 3a8847de..38052a97 100644
--- a/addons/agent_mirrorpeer_controller_test.go
+++ b/addons/agent_mirrorpeer_controller_test.go
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ func TestDisableMirroring(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Error("failed to get storage cluster", err)
 		}
 
-		if sc.Spec.Mirroring != nil {
+		if sc.Spec.Mirroring.Enabled {
 			t.Error("failed to disable mirroring")
 		}
 	}