diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
index d240a853..79850582 100644
--- a/RELEASE.md
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Release Note 🍻
 
-EMQX Operator 2.2.23 has been released.
+EMQX Operator 2.2.24-rc.1 has been released.
 
 ## Supported version
 + apps.emqx.io/v2beta1
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ EMQX Operator 2.2.23 has been released.
   + EMQX at 4.4.14 and later
   + EMQX Enterprise at 4.4.14 and later
 
-## Other Changes ✨
+## Fixes 🐞
 
 + `apps.emqx.io/v2beta1 EMQX`.
 
-  + Delete `apps.emqx.io/v2beta1/EMQX/status.coreNodes[*].uptime` and `apps.emqx.io/v2beta1/EMQX/status.replicantNodes[*].uptime`, because EMQX operator will constantly updating them. This is unnecessary wear and tear.
+  + Fix sometimes will got nil pointer error.
 
 ## How to install/upgrade EMQX Operator 💡
 
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ helm repo update
 helm upgrade --install emqx-operator emqx/emqx-operator \
   --namespace emqx-operator-system \
   --create-namespace \
-  --version 2.2.23
+  --version 2.2.24-rc.1
 kubectl wait --for=condition=Ready pods -l "control-plane=controller-manager" -n emqx-operator-system
 ```
 
diff --git a/controllers/apps/v2beta1/update_emqx_status.go b/controllers/apps/v2beta1/update_emqx_status.go
index 3bff86a9..7d7232d2 100644
--- a/controllers/apps/v2beta1/update_emqx_status.go
+++ b/controllers/apps/v2beta1/update_emqx_status.go
@@ -117,19 +117,21 @@ func (u *updateStatus) reconcile(ctx context.Context, logger logr.Logger, instan
 		}
 	}
 
-	isEnterpriser := false
-	for _, node := range coreNodes {
-		if node.ControllerUID == currentSts.UID && node.Edition == "Enterprise" {
-			isEnterpriser = true
-			break
+	if currentSts != nil {
+		isEnterpriser := false
+		for _, node := range coreNodes {
+			if node.ControllerUID == currentSts.UID && node.Edition == "Enterprise" {
+				isEnterpriser = true
+				break
+			}
 		}
-	}
-	if isEnterpriser {
-		nodeEvacuationsStatus, err := getNodeEvacuationStatusByAPI(r)
-		if err != nil {
-			u.EventRecorder.Event(instance, corev1.EventTypeWarning, "FailedToGetNodeEvacuationStatuses", err.Error())
+		if isEnterpriser {
+			nodeEvacuationsStatus, err := getNodeEvacuationStatusByAPI(r)
+			if err != nil {
+				u.EventRecorder.Event(instance, corev1.EventTypeWarning, "FailedToGetNodeEvacuationStatuses", err.Error())
+			}
+			instance.Status.NodeEvacuationsStatus = nodeEvacuationsStatus
 		}
-		instance.Status.NodeEvacuationsStatus = nodeEvacuationsStatus
 	}
 
 	// update status condition
diff --git a/e2e/v2beta1/e2e_test.go b/e2e/v2beta1/e2e_test.go
index 25555038..661b0b61 100644
--- a/e2e/v2beta1/e2e_test.go
+++ b/e2e/v2beta1/e2e_test.go
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ var _ = Describe("E2E Test", Label("base"), Ordered, func() {
 				if err := k8sClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(instance), instance); err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
-				instance.Spec.Image = "emqx/emqx-enterprise:latest"
+				instance.Spec.Image = "emqx/emqx-enterprise:latest" // EMQX Community Edition is not supported core + replicant cluster after 5.7
 				return k8sClient.Update(ctx, instance)
 			})).Should(Succeed())