diff --git a/controller/api/destination/endpoint_profile_translator.go b/controller/api/destination/endpoint_profile_translator.go
index 85c7f45bf7f33..8ca312b1563d8 100644
--- a/controller/api/destination/endpoint_profile_translator.go
+++ b/controller/api/destination/endpoint_profile_translator.go
@@ -65,11 +65,11 @@ func (ept *endpointProfileTranslator) Update(address *watcher.Address) (bool, er
 		} else if endpoint.ProtocolHint.OpaqueTransport == nil {
 			port, err := getInboundPort(&address.Pod.Spec)
 			if err != nil {
-				return false, err
-			}
-
-			endpoint.ProtocolHint.OpaqueTransport = &pb.ProtocolHint_OpaqueTransport{
-				InboundPort: port,
+				ept.log.Error(err)
+			} else {
+				endpoint.ProtocolHint.OpaqueTransport = &pb.ProtocolHint_OpaqueTransport{
+					InboundPort: port,
+				}
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/controller/api/destination/server_test.go b/controller/api/destination/server_test.go
index e169b4b102106..d83555a3cd923 100644
--- a/controller/api/destination/server_test.go
+++ b/controller/api/destination/server_test.go
@@ -417,6 +417,23 @@ func TestGetProfiles(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 
+	t.Run("Return profile with no opaque transport when pod does not have label and port is opaque", func(t *testing.T) {
+		server := makeServer(t)
+		defer server.clusterStore.UnregisterGauges()
+
+		// port 3306 is in the default opaque port list
+		stream := profileStream(t, server, podIP2, 3306, "")
+		defer stream.Cancel()
+		profile := assertSingleProfile(t, stream.Updates())
+		if profile.Endpoint == nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Expected response to have endpoint field")
+		}
+
+		if profile.Endpoint.GetProtocolHint().GetOpaqueTransport() != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Expected no opaque transport but found one")
+		}
+	})
+
 	t.Run("Return profile with no protocol hint when pod does not have label", func(t *testing.T) {
 		server := makeServer(t)
 		defer server.clusterStore.UnregisterGauges()