diff --git a/octavia/controller/worker/tasks/network_tasks.py b/octavia/controller/worker/tasks/network_tasks.py
index 5f25cbd27f..4f1c1deffc 100644
--- a/octavia/controller/worker/tasks/network_tasks.py
+++ b/octavia/controller/worker/tasks/network_tasks.py
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ class ApplyQos(BaseNetworkTask):
         """Apply qos policy on the vrrp ports which are related with vip."""
         qos_policy_id = loadbalancer.vip.qos_policy_id
         if not qos_policy_id and (
-            update_dict and (
+            not update_dict or (
                 'vip' not in update_dict or
                 'qos_policy_id' not in update_dict['vip'])):
             return
diff --git a/octavia/tests/unit/controller/worker/tasks/test_network_tasks.py b/octavia/tests/unit/controller/worker/tasks/test_network_tasks.py
index a09daa40be..d8e5685483 100644
--- a/octavia/tests/unit/controller/worker/tasks/test_network_tasks.py
+++ b/octavia/tests/unit/controller/worker/tasks/test_network_tasks.py
@@ -571,6 +571,22 @@ class TestNetworkTasks(base.TestCase):
             t_constants.MOCK_QOS_POLICY_ID1, mock.ANY)
         self.assertEqual(2, mock_driver.apply_qos_on_port.call_count)
 
+        mock_driver.reset_mock()
+        update_dict = {'description': 'fool',
+                       'vip': {
+                           'qos_policy_id': t_constants.MOCK_QOS_POLICY_ID1}}
+        tmp_lb.amphorae = AMPS_DATA
+        tmp_lb.topology = constants.TOPOLOGY_ACTIVE_STANDBY
+        net.execute(tmp_lb, update_dict=update_dict)
+        mock_driver.apply_qos_on_port.assert_called_with(
+            t_constants.MOCK_QOS_POLICY_ID1, mock.ANY)
+        self.assertEqual(2, mock_driver.apply_qos_on_port.call_count)
+
+        mock_driver.reset_mock()
+        update_dict = {}
+        net.execute(null_qos_lb, update_dict=update_dict)
+        self.assertEqual(0, mock_driver.apply_qos_on_port.call_count)
+
         # revert
         mock_driver.reset_mock()
         tmp_lb.amphorae = [AMPS_DATA[0]]
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/fix-lb-update-with-no-data-abefe7860b8fb4c7.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/fix-lb-update-with-no-data-abefe7860b8fb4c7.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ffd8b0dac0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/fix-lb-update-with-no-data-abefe7860b8fb4c7.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixed an issue where load balancers would go into ERROR when
+    setting data not visible to providers (e.g. tags).