diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/perresourceeventsource/PerResourcePollingEventSourceTestReconciler.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/perresourceeventsource/PerResourcePollingEventSourceTestReconciler.java
index dec730d536..ecc33afcb3 100644
--- a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/perresourceeventsource/PerResourcePollingEventSourceTestReconciler.java
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/perresourceeventsource/PerResourcePollingEventSourceTestReconciler.java
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ public void setKubernetesClient(KubernetesClient kubernetesClient) {
   }
 
   public int getNumberOfExecutions(String name) {
-    return numberOfExecutions.get(name);
+    var num = numberOfExecutions.get(name);
+    return num == null ? 0 : num;
   }
 
   public int getNumberOfFetchExecution(String name) {