diff --git a/pkg/cluster/cluster.go b/pkg/cluster/cluster.go
index 119237976..9bc236763 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/cluster.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/cluster.go
@@ -231,6 +231,12 @@ func (c *Cluster) Create() error {
 	}
 	c.logger.Infof("secrets have been successfully created")
 
+	pdb, err := c.createPodDisruptionBudget()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not create pod disruption budget: %v", err)
+	}
+	c.logger.Infof("pod disruption budget %q has been successfully created", util.NameFromMeta(pdb.ObjectMeta))
+
 	ss, err = c.createStatefulSet()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("could not create statefulset: %v", err)
@@ -261,12 +267,6 @@ func (c *Cluster) Create() error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	pdb, err := c.createPodDisruptionBudget()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("could not create pod disruption budget: %v", err)
-	}
-	c.logger.Infof("pod disruption budget %q has been successfully created", util.NameFromMeta(pdb.ObjectMeta))
-
 	err = c.listResources()
 	if err != nil {
 		c.logger.Errorf("could not list resources: %v", err)
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/sync.go b/pkg/cluster/sync.go
index dd232cff8..be5760c74 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/sync.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/sync.go
@@ -278,6 +278,11 @@ func (c *Cluster) syncVolumes() error {
 }
 
 func (c *Cluster) samePDBWith(pdb *policybeta1.PodDisruptionBudget) (match bool, reason string) {
+	if c.PodDisruptionBudget == nil {
+		match = false
+		reason = "pdb does not exist"
+		return
+	}
 	match = reflect.DeepEqual(pdb.Spec, c.PodDisruptionBudget.Spec)
 	if !match {
 		reason = "new service spec doesn't match the current one"