diff --git a/pkg/controller/util/node/controller_utils.go b/pkg/controller/util/node/controller_utils.go
index f77838a48eb0d..3c2211848a86c 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/util/node/controller_utils.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/util/node/controller_utils.go
@@ -159,10 +159,11 @@ func MarkPodsNotReady(kubeClient clientset.Interface, pods []*v1.Pod, nodeName s
 // RecordNodeEvent records a event related to a node.
 func RecordNodeEvent(recorder record.EventRecorder, nodeName, nodeUID, eventtype, reason, event string) {
 	ref := &v1.ObjectReference{
-		Kind:      "Node",
-		Name:      nodeName,
-		UID:       types.UID(nodeUID),
-		Namespace: "",
+		APIVersion: "v1",
+		Kind:       "Node",
+		Name:       nodeName,
+		UID:        types.UID(nodeUID),
+		Namespace:  "",
 	}
 	klog.V(2).Infof("Recording %s event message for node %s", event, nodeName)
 	recorder.Eventf(ref, eventtype, reason, "Node %s event: %s", nodeName, event)
@@ -171,10 +172,11 @@ func RecordNodeEvent(recorder record.EventRecorder, nodeName, nodeUID, eventtype
 // RecordNodeStatusChange records a event related to a node status change. (Common to lifecycle and ipam)
 func RecordNodeStatusChange(recorder record.EventRecorder, node *v1.Node, newStatus string) {
 	ref := &v1.ObjectReference{
-		Kind:      "Node",
-		Name:      node.Name,
-		UID:       node.UID,
-		Namespace: "",
+		APIVersion: "v1",
+		Kind:       "Node",
+		Name:       node.Name,
+		UID:        node.UID,
+		Namespace:  "",
 	}
 	klog.V(2).Infof("Recording status change %s event message for node %s", newStatus, node.Name)
 	// TODO: This requires a transaction, either both node status is updated