diff --git a/pkg/k8s/watchers/pod.go b/pkg/k8s/watchers/pod.go
index c79c2dad34f0..cdda771b17a1 100644
--- a/pkg/k8s/watchers/pod.go
+++ b/pkg/k8s/watchers/pod.go
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ func (k *K8sWatcher) updateK8sPodV1(oldK8sPod, newK8sPod *slim_corev1.Pod) error
 			}
 
 			// Synchronize Pod labels with CiliumEndpoint labels if there is a change.
-			updateCiliumEndpointLabels(k.clientset, podEP, newPodLabels)
+			updateCiliumEndpointLabels(k.clientset, podEP, newK8sPod.Labels)
 		}
 
 		if annotationsChanged {