diff --git a/pkg/workflow/step/generator.go b/pkg/workflow/step/generator.go
index 3b1e2de6f..4701602c0 100644
--- a/pkg/workflow/step/generator.go
+++ b/pkg/workflow/step/generator.go
@@ -168,7 +168,9 @@ func (g *DeployPreApproveWorkflowStepGenerator) Generate(app *v1beta1.Applicatio
 	for _, step := range existingSteps {
 		if step.Type == "deploy" && !lastSuspend {
 			props := DeployWorkflowStepSpec{}
-			_ = utils.StrictUnmarshal(step.Properties.Raw, &props)
+			if step.Properties != nil {
+				_ = utils.StrictUnmarshal(step.Properties.Raw, &props)
+			}
 			if props.Auto != nil && !*props.Auto {
 				steps = append(steps, v1beta1.WorkflowStep{
 					Name: "manual-approve-" + step.Name,