diff --git a/salt/_modules/metalk8s_kubernetes.py b/salt/_modules/metalk8s_kubernetes.py
index c4e6bb318d..5a23039e9a 100644
--- a/salt/_modules/metalk8s_kubernetes.py
+++ b/salt/_modules/metalk8s_kubernetes.py
@@ -303,6 +303,22 @@ def method(manifest=None, name=None, kind=None, apiVersion=None,
 update_object = _object_manipulation_function('update')
 
 
+# Check if a specific object exists
+def object_exists(kind, apiVersion, name, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Simple helper to check if an object exists or not
+
+    CLI Examples:
+
+    .. code-block:: bash
+
+        salt-call metalk8s_kubernetes.object_exists kind="Node" apiVersion="v1" name="MyNode"
+    """
+    return get_object(
+        kind=kind, apiVersion=apiVersion, name=name, **kwargs
+    ) is not None
+
+
 # Listing resources can benefit from a simpler signature
 def list_objects(kind, apiVersion, namespace='default', all_namespaces=False,
                  field_selector=None, label_selector=None, **kwargs):
diff --git a/salt/metalk8s/kubernetes/mark-control-plane/deployed.sls.in b/salt/metalk8s/kubernetes/mark-control-plane/deployed.sls.in
index b850ab7f1a..2c29006498 100644
--- a/salt/metalk8s/kubernetes/mark-control-plane/deployed.sls.in
+++ b/salt/metalk8s/kubernetes/mark-control-plane/deployed.sls.in
@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@
 {%- set node_name = pillar.bootstrap_id %}
 {%- set cri_socket = kubelet.service.options['container-runtime-endpoint'] %}
 
+Ensure node {{ node_name }} exists:
+  test.configurable_test_state:
+    - changes: False
+    - result: __slot__:salt:metalk8s_kubernetes.object_exists(
+                  kind="Node", apiVersion="v1", name="{{ node_name }}")
+    # Retry as kubelet may take time to register
+    - retry:
+        attempts: 5
+
 Mark control plane node:
   metalk8s_kubernetes.object_updated:
     - name: {{ node_name }}
@@ -24,3 +33,5 @@ Mark control plane node:
             effect: "NoSchedule"
           - key: "node-role.kubernetes.io/infra"
             effect: "NoSchedule"
+    - require:
+      - test: Ensure node {{ node_name }} exists