diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/cordon.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/cordon.go
index d339d1254780..de79bd850a83 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/cordon.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/cordon.go
@@ -147,9 +147,20 @@ func (r *cordoning) moveToNextState(ctx context.Context, signalNode crcli.Object
 // draining ignores daemonsets
 func (r *cordoning) drainNode(ctx context.Context, signalNode crcli.Object) error {
 	logger := r.log.WithField("signalnode", signalNode.GetName()).WithField("phase", "drain")
-	node, ok := signalNode.(*corev1.Node)
-	if !ok {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to covert signalNode to Node")
+
+	node := &corev1.Node{}
+	// if signalNode is a Node cast it to *corev1.Node
+	if signalNode.GetObjectKind().GroupVersionKind().Kind == "Node" {
+		var ok bool
+		node, ok = signalNode.(*corev1.Node)
+		if !ok {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to cast signalNode to *corev1.Node")
+		}
+	} else {
+		//otherwise get node from client
+		if err := r.client.Get(ctx, crcli.ObjectKey{Name: signalNode.GetName()}, node); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to get node: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	drainer := &drain.Helper{
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/uncordon.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/uncordon.go
index f72cdbf35244..f8c39e5cee40 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/uncordon.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/uncordon.go
@@ -146,9 +146,21 @@ func (r *uncordoning) moveToNextState(ctx context.Context, signalNode crcli.Obje
 // unCordonNode un-cordons a node
 func (r *uncordoning) unCordonNode(ctx context.Context, signalNode crcli.Object) error {
 	logger := r.log.WithField("signalnode", signalNode.GetName()).WithField("phase", "uncordon")
-	node, ok := signalNode.(*corev1.Node)
-	if !ok {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to covert signalNode to Node")
+
+	node := &corev1.Node{}
+
+	// if signalNode is a Node cast it to *corev1.Node
+	if signalNode.GetObjectKind().GroupVersionKind().Kind == "Node" {
+		var ok bool
+		node, ok = signalNode.(*corev1.Node)
+		if !ok {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to convert signalNode to Node")
+		}
+	} else {
+		//otherwise get node from client
+		if err := r.client.Get(ctx, crcli.ObjectKey{Name: signalNode.GetName()}, node); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to get node: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	drainer := &drain.Helper{