diff --git a/opensearch-operator/pkg/reconcilers/ismpolicy.go b/opensearch-operator/pkg/reconcilers/ismpolicy.go
index 48bc99565..76f289e91 100644
--- a/opensearch-operator/pkg/reconcilers/ismpolicy.go
+++ b/opensearch-operator/pkg/reconcilers/ismpolicy.go
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ func (r *IsmPolicyReconciler) Reconcile() (retResult ctrl.Result, retErr error)
 
 	// If the ISM policy exists in OpenSearch cluster and we have not reconciled it before then we should not overwrite the existing policy
 	if r.instance.Status.ExistingISMPolicy == nil || *r.instance.Status.ExistingISMPolicy {
-		*r.instance.Status.ExistingISMPolicy = true
+		r.instance.Status.ExistingISMPolicy = pointer.Bool(true)
 		reason = opensearchIsmPolicyExists
 		r.logger.Error(errors.New("ISM Policy already exists in Opensearch"), reason)
 		return ctrl.Result{