diff --git a/cmd/node-termination-handler.go b/cmd/node-termination-handler.go
index 069b8e76..165203a6 100644
--- a/cmd/node-termination-handler.go
+++ b/cmd/node-termination-handler.go
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func main() {
 				if err != nil {
 					log.Log().Str("event_type", monitor.Kind()).Err(err).Msg("There was a problem monitoring for events")
 					metrics.ErrorEventsInc(monitor.Kind())
-					if err == previousErr {
+					if previousErr != nil && err.Error() == previousErr.Error() {
 						duplicateErrCount++
 					} else {
 						duplicateErrCount = 0