diff --git a/cdc/owner/scheduler.go b/cdc/owner/scheduler.go
index 00f0771d815..7f47c61ff9f 100644
--- a/cdc/owner/scheduler.go
+++ b/cdc/owner/scheduler.go
@@ -300,6 +300,11 @@ func (s *scheduler) handleJobs(jobs []*schedulerJob) {
 func (s *scheduler) cleanUpFinishedOperations() {
 	for captureID := range s.state.TaskStatuses {
 		s.state.PatchTaskStatus(captureID, func(status *model.TaskStatus) (*model.TaskStatus, bool, error) {
+			if status == nil {
+				log.Warn("task status of the capture is not found, may be the key in etcd was deleted", zap.String("captureID", captureID), zap.String("changeFeedID", s.state.ID))
+				return status, false, nil
+			}
+
 			changed := false
 			for tableID, operation := range status.Operation {
 				if operation.Status == model.OperFinished {
diff --git a/cdc/owner/scheduler_test.go b/cdc/owner/scheduler_test.go
index 669ab85a8f5..701e1838efb 100644
--- a/cdc/owner/scheduler_test.go
+++ b/cdc/owner/scheduler_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/pingcap/check"
 	"github.com/pingcap/tiflow/cdc/model"
+	"github.com/pingcap/tiflow/pkg/etcd"
 	"github.com/pingcap/tiflow/pkg/orchestrator"
 	"github.com/pingcap/tiflow/pkg/util/testleak"
 )
@@ -84,8 +85,24 @@ func (s *schedulerSuite) finishTableOperation(captureID model.CaptureID, tableID
 
 func (s *schedulerSuite) TestScheduleOneCapture(c *check.C) {
 	defer testleak.AfterTest(c)()
+
+	s.reset(c)
+	captureID := "test-capture-0"
+	s.addCapture(captureID)
+
+	_, _ = s.scheduler.Tick(s.state, []model.TableID{}, s.captures)
+
+	// Manually simulate the scenario where the corresponding key was deleted in the etcd
+	key := &etcd.CDCKey{
+		Tp:           etcd.CDCKeyTypeTaskStatus,
+		CaptureID:    captureID,
+		ChangefeedID: s.state.ID,
+	}
+	s.tester.MustUpdate(key.String(), nil)
+	s.tester.MustApplyPatches()
+
 	s.reset(c)
-	captureID := "test-capture-1"
+	captureID = "test-capture-1"
 	s.addCapture(captureID)
 
 	// add three tables