diff --git a/util/src/main/java/io/kubernetes/client/util/taints/Taints.java b/util/src/main/java/io/kubernetes/client/util/taints/Taints.java
index d45679e087..e08af3db37 100644
--- a/util/src/main/java/io/kubernetes/client/util/taints/Taints.java
+++ b/util/src/main/java/io/kubernetes/client/util/taints/Taints.java
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ public String toString() {
   }
 
   public static V1Taint findTaint(V1Node node, String key, Effect effect) {
+    if (node.getSpec() == null || node.getSpec().getTaints() == null) {
+      return null;
+    }
     for (V1Taint taint : node.getSpec().getTaints()) {
       if (taint.getKey().equals(key) && taint.getEffect().equals(effect.toString())) {
         return taint;
diff --git a/util/src/test/java/io/kubernetes/client/util/taints/TaintsTest.java b/util/src/test/java/io/kubernetes/client/util/taints/TaintsTest.java
index 7521dd0988..05d6317d5f 100644
--- a/util/src/test/java/io/kubernetes/client/util/taints/TaintsTest.java
+++ b/util/src/test/java/io/kubernetes/client/util/taints/TaintsTest.java
@@ -65,4 +65,12 @@ void noExecuteTaints() {
     assertThat(Taints.findTaint(node, "key1", Taints.Effect.NO_EXECUTE).getEffect())
         .isEqualTo(effect);
   }
+
+  @Test
+  void findTaintWithoutSpecReturnsNull() {
+    // A node without a spec (or without a taints list) must not NPE; it simply has no taints,
+    // consistent with the null-spec handling in removeTaint.
+    V1Node node = new V1Node();
+    assertThat(Taints.findTaint(node, "key1", Taints.Effect.NO_SCHEDULE)).isNull();
+  }
 }