diff --git a/kubelet/datadog_checks/kubelet/common.py b/kubelet/datadog_checks/kubelet/common.py
index bcb4f37f3d230..d947bee1f96af 100644
--- a/kubelet/datadog_checks/kubelet/common.py
+++ b/kubelet/datadog_checks/kubelet/common.py
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ def is_excluded(self, cid, pod_uid=None):
         :param pod_uid: pod UID for static pod detection
         :return: bool
         """
+        if not cid:
+            return True
+
         if cid in self.cache:
             return self.cache[cid]
 
diff --git a/kubelet/tests/test_common.py b/kubelet/tests/test_common.py
index e0ccdf85627b7..9f7a21df5adaf 100644
--- a/kubelet/tests/test_common.py
+++ b/kubelet/tests/test_common.py
@@ -38,6 +38,16 @@ def test_container_filter(monkeypatch):
     assert short_cid in filter.containers
     is_excluded.assert_not_called()
 
+    # Test cid == None
+    is_excluded.reset_mock()
+    assert filter.is_excluded(None) is True
+    is_excluded.assert_not_called()
+
+    # Test cid == ""
+    is_excluded.reset_mock()
+    assert filter.is_excluded("") is True
+    is_excluded.assert_not_called()
+
     # Test non-existing container
     is_excluded.reset_mock()
     assert filter.is_excluded("invalid") is True