diff --git a/pkg/operator/controller/ingress/nodeport_service.go b/pkg/operator/controller/ingress/nodeport_service.go
index 1b6919e4c0..170cf05cdd 100644
--- a/pkg/operator/controller/ingress/nodeport_service.go
+++ b/pkg/operator/controller/ingress/nodeport_service.go
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ func nodePortServiceChanged(current, expected *corev1.Service) (bool, *corev1.Se
 		// have modified.
 		cmpopts.IgnoreFields(corev1.ServicePort{}, "NodePort"),
 		cmpopts.IgnoreFields(corev1.ServiceSpec{}, "ClusterIP", "ExternalIPs", "HealthCheckNodePort"),
+		cmp.Comparer(cmpServiceAffinity),
 		cmpopts.EquateEmpty(),
 	}
 	if cmp.Equal(current.Spec, expected.Spec, serviceCmpOpts...) {
@@ -161,3 +162,13 @@ func nodePortServiceChanged(current, expected *corev1.Service) (bool, *corev1.Se
 
 	return true, updated
 }
+
+func cmpServiceAffinity(a, b corev1.ServiceAffinity) bool {
+	if len(a) == 0 {
+		a = corev1.ServiceAffinityNone
+	}
+	if len(b) == 0 {
+		b = corev1.ServiceAffinityNone
+	}
+	return a == b
+}
diff --git a/pkg/operator/controller/ingress/nodeport_service_test.go b/pkg/operator/controller/ingress/nodeport_service_test.go
index 2c77f6235c..6448d8c881 100644
--- a/pkg/operator/controller/ingress/nodeport_service_test.go
+++ b/pkg/operator/controller/ingress/nodeport_service_test.go
@@ -127,6 +127,20 @@ func TestNodePortServiceChanged(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expect: true,
 		},
+		{
+			description: "if .spec.sessionAffinity is defaulted",
+			mutate: func(service *corev1.Service) {
+				service.Spec.SessionAffinity = corev1.ServiceAffinityNone
+			},
+			expect: false,
+		},
+		{
+			description: "if .spec.sessionAffinity is set to a non-default value",
+			mutate: func(service *corev1.Service) {
+				service.Spec.SessionAffinity = corev1.ServiceAffinityClientIP
+			},
+			expect: true,
+		},
 		{
 			description: "if .spec.type changes",
 			mutate: func(svc *corev1.Service) {