diff --git a/pkg/cloud/services/eks/addons.go b/pkg/cloud/services/eks/addons.go
index 45c9a8cd82..c1bc494d8a 100644
--- a/pkg/cloud/services/eks/addons.go
+++ b/pkg/cloud/services/eks/addons.go
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func (s *Service) translateAPIToAddon(addons []ekscontrolplanev1.Addon) []*eksad
 		convertedAddon := &eksaddons.EKSAddon{
 			Name:                  &addon.Name,
 			Version:               &addon.Version,
-			Configuration:         &addon.Configuration,
+			Configuration:         convertConfiguration(addon.Configuration),
 			Tags:                  ngTags(s.scope.Cluster.Name, s.scope.AdditionalTags()),
 			ResolveConflict:       convertConflictResolution(*addon.ConflictResolution),
 			ServiceAccountRoleARN: addon.ServiceAccountRoleArn,
@@ -215,3 +215,10 @@ func convertConflictResolution(conflict ekscontrolplanev1.AddonResolution) *stri
 	}
 	return aws.String(eks.ResolveConflictsOverwrite)
 }
+
+func convertConfiguration(configuration string) *string {
+	if configuration == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &configuration
+}
diff --git a/pkg/eks/addons/types.go b/pkg/eks/addons/types.go
index 67c4a2b58a..9ddce2c176 100644
--- a/pkg/eks/addons/types.go
+++ b/pkg/eks/addons/types.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ type EKSAddon struct {
 
 // IsEqual determines if 2 EKSAddon are equal.
 func (e *EKSAddon) IsEqual(other *EKSAddon, includeTags bool) bool {
-	//NOTE: we do not compare the ARN as that is only for existing addons
+	// NOTE: we do not compare the ARN as that is only for existing addons
 	if e == other {
 		return true
 	}
@@ -49,9 +49,6 @@ func (e *EKSAddon) IsEqual(other *EKSAddon, includeTags bool) bool {
 	if !cmp.Equal(e.Configuration, other.Configuration) {
 		return false
 	}
-	if !cmp.Equal(e.ResolveConflict, other.ResolveConflict) {
-		return false
-	}
 
 	if includeTags {
 		diffTags := e.Tags.Difference(other.Tags)
diff --git a/pkg/eks/addons/types_test.go b/pkg/eks/addons/types_test.go
index dd363254cb..a21d685384 100644
--- a/pkg/eks/addons/types_test.go
+++ b/pkg/eks/addons/types_test.go
@@ -54,6 +54,32 @@ func TestAddOnEqual(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			result: gomega.BeTrueBecause("addon values are equal (except status)"),
 		},
+		{
+			orig: &EKSAddon{
+				Version:               ptr("a"),
+				ServiceAccountRoleARN: ptr("b"),
+				Configuration:         nil,
+			},
+			other: &EKSAddon{
+				Version:               ptr("a"),
+				ServiceAccountRoleARN: ptr("b"),
+				Configuration:         nil,
+			},
+			result: gomega.BeTrueBecause("addon values are equal with optional nil configuration"),
+		},
+		{
+			orig: &EKSAddon{
+				Version:               ptr("a"),
+				ServiceAccountRoleARN: ptr("b"),
+				ResolveConflict:       ptr("OVERWRITE"),
+			},
+			other: &EKSAddon{
+				Version:               ptr("a"),
+				ServiceAccountRoleARN: ptr("b"),
+				ResolveConflict:       nil,
+			},
+			result: gomega.BeTrueBecause("addon values are equal with expected diff on resolve conflict"),
+		},
 		{
 			orig: &EKSAddon{
 				Version:               ptr("a"),