diff --git a/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go b/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go
index 9e0cb9f4d0..b662fa6fb5 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go
@@ -1008,7 +1008,7 @@ func PatchNodeTaints(c clientset.Interface, nodeName string, oldNode *v1.Node, n
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create patch for node %q: %v", nodeName, err)
 	}
 
-	_, err = c.CoreV1().Nodes().Patch(string(nodeName), types.StrategicMergePatchType, patchBytes)
+	_, err = c.CoreV1().Nodes().Patch(nodeName, types.StrategicMergePatchType, patchBytes)
 	return err
 }