diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/2200-sseago b/changelogs/unreleased/2200-sseago
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5b3569d89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/2200-sseago
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Bug fix: Check for nil LastMaintenanceTime in ResticRepository dueForMaintenance
diff --git a/pkg/controller/restic_repository_controller.go b/pkg/controller/restic_repository_controller.go
index dce0fa46d..ccc7db630 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/restic_repository_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/restic_repository_controller.go
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ func (c *resticRepositoryController) runMaintenanceIfDue(req *v1.ResticRepositor
 }
 
 func dueForMaintenance(req *v1.ResticRepository, now time.Time) bool {
-	return req.Status.LastMaintenanceTime.Add(req.Spec.MaintenanceFrequency.Duration).Before(now)
+	return req.Status.LastMaintenanceTime == nil || req.Status.LastMaintenanceTime.Add(req.Spec.MaintenanceFrequency.Duration).Before(now)
 }
 
 func (c *resticRepositoryController) checkNotReadyRepo(req *v1.ResticRepository, log logrus.FieldLogger) error {