diff --git a/ovn_octavia_provider/driver.py b/ovn_octavia_provider/driver.py
index d5d2bca1..9cf67f7b 100644
--- a/ovn_octavia_provider/driver.py
+++ b/ovn_octavia_provider/driver.py
@@ -292,7 +292,8 @@ class OvnProviderDriver(driver_base.ProviderDriver):
         skipped_members = []
         pool_key, ovn_lb = self._ovn_helper._find_ovn_lb_by_pool_id(pool_id)
         external_ids = copy.deepcopy(ovn_lb.external_ids)
-        existing_members = external_ids[pool_key].split(',')
+        pool = external_ids[pool_key]
+        existing_members = pool.split(',') if pool else []
         members_to_delete = copy.copy(existing_members)
         for member in members:
             if (self._check_monitor_options(member) or
diff --git a/ovn_octavia_provider/tests/unit/test_driver.py b/ovn_octavia_provider/tests/unit/test_driver.py
index edc49f95..4a2e5572 100644
--- a/ovn_octavia_provider/tests/unit/test_driver.py
+++ b/ovn_octavia_provider/tests/unit/test_driver.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 #
+import copy
 from unittest import mock
 
 from octavia_lib.api.drivers import data_models
@@ -289,6 +290,15 @@ class TestOvnProviderDriver(ovn_base.TestOvnOctaviaBase):
                                         [self.ref_member, self.update_member])
         self.assertEqual(self.mock_add_request.call_count, 3)
 
+    def test_member_batch_update_no_members(self):
+        pool_key = 'pool_%s' % self.pool_id
+        ovn_lb = copy.copy(self.ovn_lb)
+        ovn_lb.external_ids[pool_key] = []
+        self.mock_find_lb_pool_key.return_value = ovn_lb
+        self.driver.member_batch_update(self.pool_id,
+                                        [self.ref_member, self.update_member])
+        self.assertEqual(self.mock_add_request.call_count, 2)
+
     def test_member_batch_update_skipped_monitor(self):
         self.ref_member.monitor_address = '10.11.1.1'
         self.assertRaises(exceptions.UnsupportedOptionError,