diff --git a/dask_kubernetes/operator/controller/controller.py b/dask_kubernetes/operator/controller/controller.py
index e8baff1e3..b6ea6c17d 100644
--- a/dask_kubernetes/operator/controller/controller.py
+++ b/dask_kubernetes/operator/controller/controller.py
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ async def daskworkergroup_replica_update(
         if workers_needed < 0:
             pending_workers = []
             for worker in current_workers:
-                if not worker.ready() and len(pending_workers) <= -workers_needed:
+                if not await worker.ready() and len(pending_workers) <= -workers_needed:
                     pending_workers.append(worker)
 
             if pending_workers: