diff --git a/neonvm/controllers/virtualmachine_controller.go b/neonvm/controllers/virtualmachine_controller.go
index 2bb37eb55..74909ffde 100644
--- a/neonvm/controllers/virtualmachine_controller.go
+++ b/neonvm/controllers/virtualmachine_controller.go
@@ -787,7 +787,11 @@ func (r *VirtualMachineReconciler) doReconcile(ctx context.Context, virtualmachi
 			if shouldRestart {
 				log.Info("Restarting VM runner pod", "VM.Phase", virtualmachine.Status.Phase, "RestartPolicy", virtualmachine.Spec.RestartPolicy)
 				virtualmachine.Status.Phase = vmv1.VmPending // reset to trigger restart
-				*virtualmachine.Status.RestartCount += 1     // increment restart count
+				if virtualmachine.Status.RestartCount == nil {
+					var zero int32 = 0
+					virtualmachine.Status.RestartCount = &zero
+				}
+				*virtualmachine.Status.RestartCount += 1 // increment restart count
 				r.Metrics.vmRestartCounts.Inc()
 			}