diff --git a/pkg/reconciler/common/common.go b/pkg/reconciler/common/common.go
index 7e93ba547..faaa501cd 100644
--- a/pkg/reconciler/common/common.go
+++ b/pkg/reconciler/common/common.go
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ func PipelineReady(informer informer.TektonPipelineInformer) (*v1alpha1.TektonPi
 		}
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	readyCondition := ppln.GetStatus().GetCondition(apis.ConditionReady)
-	if readyCondition != nil && strings.Contains(readyCondition.Message, v1alpha1.UpgradePending) {
+	if isUpgradePending(ppln.GetStatus()) {
 		return nil, v1alpha1.DEPENDENCY_UPGRADE_PENDING_ERR
 	}
 	if !ppln.Status.IsReady() {
@@ -53,6 +52,18 @@ func PipelineReady(informer informer.TektonPipelineInformer) (*v1alpha1.TektonPi
 	return ppln, nil
 }
 
+// isUpgradePending checks if the component status indicates an upgrade is pending
+func isUpgradePending(status v1alpha1.TektonComponentStatus) bool {
+	if status == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	readyCondition := status.GetCondition(apis.ConditionReady)
+	if readyCondition == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return strings.Contains(readyCondition.Message, v1alpha1.UpgradePending)
+}
+
 func PipelineTargetNamspace(informer informer.TektonPipelineInformer) (string, error) {
 	ppln, err := getPipelineRes(informer)
 	if err != nil {