diff --git a/src/internal/controller/project_controller.go b/src/internal/controller/project_controller.go
index c450ee7..807a479 100644
--- a/src/internal/controller/project_controller.go
+++ b/src/internal/controller/project_controller.go
@@ -207,14 +207,17 @@ func (wr *wrappedProjectReconciler) reconcileRoles(ctx context.Context, ztdClien
 		}
 	}
 
-	for _, dRole := range deleteRoles {
-		if _, err = ztdClient.RemoveProjectRole(middleware.SetOrgID(ctx, org.Status.OrgId), &pb.RemoveProjectRoleRequest{
-			ProjectId: wr.project.Status.ProjectId,
-			RoleKey:   dRole.Key,
-		}); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("Error removing project role: %v", err)
+	if deleteRoles != nil {
+		for _, dRole := range deleteRoles {
+			if _, err = ztdClient.RemoveProjectRole(middleware.SetOrgID(ctx, org.Status.OrgId), &pb.RemoveProjectRoleRequest{
+				ProjectId: wr.project.Status.ProjectId,
+				RoleKey:   dRole.Key,
+			}); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("Error removing project role: %v", err)
+			}
 		}
 	}
+
 	if len(roles) > 0 {
 		_, err = ztdClient.BulkAddProjectRoles(middleware.SetOrgID(ctx, org.Status.OrgId), &pb.BulkAddProjectRolesRequest{
 			ProjectId: wr.project.Status.ProjectId,