diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/5359-lyndon b/changelogs/unreleased/5359-lyndon
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..230ba3f72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/5359-lyndon
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix a repoEnsurer problem introduced by the refactor - The repoEnsurer didn't check "" state of BackupRepository, as a result, the function GetBackupRepository always returns without an error even though the ensreReady is specified.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pkg/repository/backup_repo_op.go b/pkg/repository/backup_repo_op.go
index 237d8ddaf..3ae0f2812 100644
--- a/pkg/repository/backup_repo_op.go
+++ b/pkg/repository/backup_repo_op.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func GetBackupRepository(ctx context.Context, cli client.Client, namespace strin
 			return nil, errors.Errorf("backup repository is not ready: %s", repo.Status.Message)
 		}
 
-		if repo.Status.Phase == velerov1api.BackupRepositoryPhaseNew {
+		if repo.Status.Phase == "" || repo.Status.Phase == velerov1api.BackupRepositoryPhaseNew {
 			return nil, backupRepoNotProvisionedError
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/repository/backup_repo_op_test.go b/pkg/repository/backup_repo_op_test.go
index 104c4d616..a317e22c2 100644
--- a/pkg/repository/backup_repo_op_test.go
+++ b/pkg/repository/backup_repo_op_test.go
@@ -96,6 +96,14 @@ func TestGetBackupRepository(t *testing.T) {
 			backupRepositoryKey: BackupRepositoryKey{"fake-volume-ns-02", "fake-bsl-02", "fake-repository-type-02"},
 			expected:            buildBackupRepoPointer(BackupRepositoryKey{"fake-volume-ns-02", "fake-bsl-02", "fake-repository-type-02"}, velerov1api.BackupRepositoryPhaseNew, "02"),
 		},
+		{
+			name: "repository state is empty, not expect ready",
+			backupRepositories: []velerov1api.BackupRepository{
+				buildBackupRepo(BackupRepositoryKey{"fake-volume-ns-01", "fake-bsl-01", "fake-repository-type-01"}, velerov1api.BackupRepositoryPhaseReady, "01"),
+				buildBackupRepo(BackupRepositoryKey{"fake-volume-ns-02", "fake-bsl-02", "fake-repository-type-02"}, "", "02")},
+			backupRepositoryKey: BackupRepositoryKey{"fake-volume-ns-02", "fake-bsl-02", "fake-repository-type-02"},
+			expected:            buildBackupRepoPointer(BackupRepositoryKey{"fake-volume-ns-02", "fake-bsl-02", "fake-repository-type-02"}, "", "02"),
+		},
 		{
 			name: "repository not ready, expect ready",
 			backupRepositories: []velerov1api.BackupRepository{
@@ -114,6 +122,15 @@ func TestGetBackupRepository(t *testing.T) {
 			ensureReady:         true,
 			expectedErr:         "backup repository not provisioned",
 		},
+		{
+			name: "repository state is empty, expect ready",
+			backupRepositories: []velerov1api.BackupRepository{
+				buildBackupRepo(BackupRepositoryKey{"fake-volume-ns-01", "fake-bsl-01", "fake-repository-type-01"}, velerov1api.BackupRepositoryPhaseReady, "01"),
+				buildBackupRepo(BackupRepositoryKey{"fake-volume-ns-02", "fake-bsl-02", "fake-repository-type-02"}, "", "02")},
+			backupRepositoryKey: BackupRepositoryKey{"fake-volume-ns-02", "fake-bsl-02", "fake-repository-type-02"},
+			ensureReady:         true,
+			expectedErr:         "backup repository not provisioned",
+		},
 		{
 			name: "repository ready, expect ready",
 			backupRepositories: []velerov1api.BackupRepository{
@@ -135,7 +152,7 @@ func TestGetBackupRepository(t *testing.T) {
 
 			backupRepo, err := GetBackupRepository(context.Background(), fakeClient, velerov1api.DefaultNamespace, tc.backupRepositoryKey, tc.ensureReady)
 
-			if backupRepo != nil {
+			if backupRepo != nil && tc.expected != nil {
 				backupRepo.ResourceVersion = tc.expected.ResourceVersion
 				require.Equal(t, *tc.expected, *backupRepo)
 			} else {