diff --git a/vertical-pod-autoscaler/pkg/updater/priority/scaling_direction_pod_eviction_admission.go b/vertical-pod-autoscaler/pkg/updater/priority/scaling_direction_pod_eviction_admission.go
index 878e1ca9acbe..af3b4b6e0a9f 100644
--- a/vertical-pod-autoscaler/pkg/updater/priority/scaling_direction_pod_eviction_admission.go
+++ b/vertical-pod-autoscaler/pkg/updater/priority/scaling_direction_pod_eviction_admission.go
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ func (s *scalingDirectionPodEvictionAdmission) LoopInit(_ []*apiv1.Pod, vpaContr
 	s.EvictionRequirements = make(map[*apiv1.Pod][]*vpa_types.EvictionRequirement)
 	for vpa, pods := range vpaControlledPods {
 		for _, pod := range pods {
+			// When UpdatePolicy is not specified, the default policy will be followed, and the EvictionRequirements field will be nil
+			if vpa.Spec.UpdatePolicy == nil {
+				continue
+			}
 			s.EvictionRequirements[pod] = vpa.Spec.UpdatePolicy.EvictionRequirements
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/vertical-pod-autoscaler/pkg/updater/priority/scaling_direction_pod_eviction_admission_test.go b/vertical-pod-autoscaler/pkg/updater/priority/scaling_direction_pod_eviction_admission_test.go
index 1ee28f4e26d5..22780b658fa2 100644
--- a/vertical-pod-autoscaler/pkg/updater/priority/scaling_direction_pod_eviction_admission_test.go
+++ b/vertical-pod-autoscaler/pkg/updater/priority/scaling_direction_pod_eviction_admission_test.go
@@ -55,6 +55,21 @@ func TestLoopInit(t *testing.T) {
 		Get()
 	vpaToPodMap := map[*v1.VerticalPodAutoscaler][]*corev1.Pod{testVPA: {pod, pod2}}
 
+	t.Run("it should not require UpdateMode and EvictionRequirements.", func(t *testing.T) {
+		sdpea := NewScalingDirectionPodEvictionAdmission()
+		sdpea.LoopInit(nil, vpaToPodMap)
+
+		newTestVPA := test.VerticalPodAutoscaler().
+			WithName("test-vpa").
+			WithContainer(container1Name).
+			Get()
+
+		newVpaToPodMap := map[*v1.VerticalPodAutoscaler][]*corev1.Pod{newTestVPA: {pod, pod2}}
+
+		sdpea.LoopInit(nil, newVpaToPodMap)
+		assert.Len(t, sdpea.(*scalingDirectionPodEvictionAdmission).EvictionRequirements, 0)
+	})
+
 	t.Run("it should store EvictionRequirements from VPA in a map per Pod", func(t *testing.T) {
 		sdpea := NewScalingDirectionPodEvictionAdmission()
 		sdpea.LoopInit(nil, vpaToPodMap)