diff --git a/hoptimator-operator/src/main/java/com/linkedin/hoptimator/operator/subscription/SubscriptionReconciler.java b/hoptimator-operator/src/main/java/com/linkedin/hoptimator/operator/subscription/SubscriptionReconciler.java
index 592ee81..cf52c63 100644
--- a/hoptimator-operator/src/main/java/com/linkedin/hoptimator/operator/subscription/SubscriptionReconciler.java
+++ b/hoptimator-operator/src/main/java/com/linkedin/hoptimator/operator/subscription/SubscriptionReconciler.java
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ private static boolean isReady(DynamicKubernetesObject obj) {
   // Whether status has diverged from spec (i.e. we need to re-plan the pipeline)
   private static boolean diverged(V1alpha1SubscriptionSpec spec, V1alpha1SubscriptionStatus status) {
     return status.getSql() == null || !status.getSql().equals(spec.getSql())
-        || !status.getHints().equals(spec.getHints());
+        || status.getHints() == null || !status.getHints().equals(spec.getHints());
   }
 
   // Fetch attributes from downstream controllers