diff --git a/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go b/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go
index 9f3dc392cbbd..9c83da3fecef 100644
--- a/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go
+++ b/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go
@@ -275,6 +275,11 @@ func hubMachineSetStatus(in *clusterv1.MachineSetStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
 	if in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 == nil {
 		in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 = &clusterv1.MachineSetV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{}
 	}
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func spokeMachineSetStatus(in *MachineSetStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
@@ -304,6 +309,11 @@ func hubMachineDeploymentStatus(in *clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus, c fuzz.Co
 	if in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 == nil {
 		in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 = &clusterv1.MachineDeploymentV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{}
 	}
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func spokeMachineDeploymentSpec(in *MachineDeploymentSpec, c fuzz.Continue) {
diff --git a/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go b/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go
index dcc8501d0e63..edc536cc3c0b 100644
--- a/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -2238,7 +2238,9 @@ func Convert_v1beta2_MachineDeploymentSpec_To_v1beta1_MachineDeploymentSpec(in *
 func autoConvert_v1beta1_MachineDeploymentStatus_To_v1beta2_MachineDeploymentStatus(in *MachineDeploymentStatus, out *v1beta2.MachineDeploymentStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.ObservedGeneration = in.ObservedGeneration
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	// WARNING: in.UpdatedReplicas requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -2277,7 +2279,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachineDeploymentStatus_To_v1beta1_MachineDeploymentSta
 	}
 	out.ObservedGeneration = in.ObservedGeneration
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -3170,7 +3174,9 @@ func Convert_v1beta2_MachineSetSpec_To_v1beta1_MachineSetSpec(in *v1beta2.Machin
 
 func autoConvert_v1beta1_MachineSetStatus_To_v1beta2_MachineSetStatus(in *MachineSetStatus, out *v1beta2.MachineSetStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	// WARNING: in.FullyLabeledReplicas requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -3209,7 +3215,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachineSetStatus_To_v1beta1_MachineSetStatus(in *v1beta
 		out.Conditions = nil
 	}
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/api/v1beta2/machinedeployment_types.go b/api/v1beta2/machinedeployment_types.go
index 778f30d04d53..e56074d614ea 100644
--- a/api/v1beta2/machinedeployment_types.go
+++ b/api/v1beta2/machinedeployment_types.go
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ type MachineDeploymentStatus struct {
 	// replicas is the total number of non-terminated machines targeted by this deployment
 	// (their labels match the selector).
 	// +optional
-	Replicas int32 `json:"replicas"`
+	Replicas *int32 `json:"replicas,omitempty"`
 
 	// readyReplicas is the number of ready replicas for this MachineDeployment. A machine is considered ready when Machine's Ready condition is true.
 	// +optional
diff --git a/api/v1beta2/machineset_types.go b/api/v1beta2/machineset_types.go
index 2d15a1d062e6..63fc6473d160 100644
--- a/api/v1beta2/machineset_types.go
+++ b/api/v1beta2/machineset_types.go
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ type MachineSetStatus struct {
 
 	// replicas is the most recently observed number of replicas.
 	// +optional
-	Replicas int32 `json:"replicas"`
+	Replicas *int32 `json:"replicas,omitempty"`
 
 	// readyReplicas is the number of ready replicas for this MachineSet. A machine is considered ready when Machine's Ready condition is true.
 	// +optional
diff --git a/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index 1d3c1568e0ee..9c669c6fdc19 100644
--- a/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -1511,6 +1511,11 @@ func (in *MachineDeploymentStatus) DeepCopyInto(out *MachineDeploymentStatus) {
 			(*in)[i].DeepCopyInto(&(*out)[i])
 		}
 	}
+	if in.Replicas != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Replicas, &out.Replicas
+		*out = new(int32)
+		**out = **in
+	}
 	if in.ReadyReplicas != nil {
 		in, out := &in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas
 		*out = new(int32)
@@ -2471,6 +2476,11 @@ func (in *MachineSetStatus) DeepCopyInto(out *MachineSetStatus) {
 			(*in)[i].DeepCopyInto(&(*out)[i])
 		}
 	}
+	if in.Replicas != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Replicas, &out.Replicas
+		*out = new(int32)
+		**out = **in
+	}
 	if in.ReadyReplicas != nil {
 		in, out := &in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas
 		*out = new(int32)
diff --git a/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.openapi.go b/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.openapi.go
index 1546f37088e3..c2ed1efd1aff 100644
--- a/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.openapi.go
+++ b/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.openapi.go
@@ -2578,7 +2578,6 @@ func schema_sigsk8sio_cluster_api_api_v1beta2_MachineDeploymentStatus(ref common
 					"replicas": {
 						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
 							Description: "replicas is the total number of non-terminated machines targeted by this deployment (their labels match the selector).",
-							Default:     0,
 							Type:        []string{"integer"},
 							Format:      "int32",
 						},
@@ -4212,7 +4211,6 @@ func schema_sigsk8sio_cluster_api_api_v1beta2_MachineSetStatus(ref common.Refere
 					"replicas": {
 						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
 							Description: "replicas is the most recently observed number of replicas.",
-							Default:     0,
 							Type:        []string{"integer"},
 							Format:      "int32",
 						},
diff --git a/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go b/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go
index 728f79b86951..97e8ce6e9e38 100644
--- a/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go
+++ b/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	fuzz "github.com/google/gofuzz"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/apitesting/fuzzer"
 	runtimeserializer "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/serializer"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 
 	bootstrapv1beta1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/bootstrap/kubeadm/api/v1beta1"
 	controlplanev1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta2"
@@ -70,6 +71,12 @@ func hubKubeadmControlPlaneStatus(in *controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus,
 			in.Initialization = nil
 		}
 	}
+
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func spokeKubeadmControlPlaneStatus(in *KubeadmControlPlaneStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
diff --git a/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go b/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go
index 2bf565883cce..19478599f3eb 100644
--- a/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -399,7 +399,9 @@ func Convert_v1beta2_KubeadmControlPlaneSpec_To_v1beta1_KubeadmControlPlaneSpec(
 
 func autoConvert_v1beta1_KubeadmControlPlaneStatus_To_v1beta2_KubeadmControlPlaneStatus(in *KubeadmControlPlaneStatus, out *v1beta2.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	out.Version = (*string)(unsafe.Pointer(in.Version))
 	// WARNING: in.UpdatedReplicas requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
@@ -441,7 +443,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_KubeadmControlPlaneStatus_To_v1beta1_KubeadmControlPlan
 	}
 	// WARNING: in.Initialization requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta2/kubeadm_control_plane_types.go b/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta2/kubeadm_control_plane_types.go
index 675caf609221..e171442b26ac 100644
--- a/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta2/kubeadm_control_plane_types.go
+++ b/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta2/kubeadm_control_plane_types.go
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ type KubeadmControlPlaneStatus struct {
 	// replicas is the total number of non-terminated machines targeted by this control plane
 	// (their labels match the selector).
 	// +optional
-	Replicas int32 `json:"replicas"`
+	Replicas *int32 `json:"replicas,omitempty"`
 
 	// readyReplicas is the number of ready replicas for this KubeadmControlPlane. A machine is considered ready when Machine's Ready condition is true.
 	// +optional
diff --git a/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index dbd61573b6c4..6f0f3c452ef7 100644
--- a/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -219,6 +219,11 @@ func (in *KubeadmControlPlaneStatus) DeepCopyInto(out *KubeadmControlPlaneStatus
 		*out = new(KubeadmControlPlaneInitializationStatus)
 		**out = **in
 	}
+	if in.Replicas != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Replicas, &out.Replicas
+		*out = new(int32)
+		**out = **in
+	}
 	if in.ReadyReplicas != nil {
 		in, out := &in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas
 		*out = new(int32)
diff --git a/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/controller_test.go b/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/controller_test.go
index a1e8d74f96b5..c34405431ee4 100644
--- a/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/controller_test.go
+++ b/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/controller_test.go
@@ -1385,7 +1385,7 @@ kubernetesVersion: metav1.16.1
 		g.Expect(kcp.Finalizers).To(ContainElement(controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneFinalizer))
 
 		g.Expect(kcp.Status.Selector).NotTo(BeEmpty())
-		g.Expect(kcp.Status.Replicas).To(BeEquivalentTo(1))
+		g.Expect(kcp.Status.Replicas).To(HaveValue(BeEquivalentTo(1)))
 		g.Expect(v1beta1conditions.IsFalse(kcp, controlplanev1.AvailableV1Beta1Condition)).To(BeTrue())
 		g.Expect(conditions.IsFalse(kcp, controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneInitializedCondition)).To(BeTrue())
 
@@ -1626,7 +1626,7 @@ kubernetesVersion: metav1.16.1`,
 		g.Expect(kcp.Finalizers).To(ContainElement(controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneFinalizer))
 
 		g.Expect(kcp.Status.Selector).NotTo(BeEmpty())
-		g.Expect(kcp.Status.Replicas).To(BeEquivalentTo(1))
+		g.Expect(kcp.Status.Replicas).To(HaveValue(BeEquivalentTo(1)))
 		g.Expect(v1beta1conditions.IsFalse(kcp, controlplanev1.AvailableV1Beta1Condition)).To(BeTrue())
 
 		// Verify that the kubeconfig is using the custom CA
diff --git a/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/status.go b/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/status.go
index 2b63bc2f5513..b397c3fa1463 100644
--- a/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/status.go
+++ b/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/status.go
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ func setReplicas(_ context.Context, kcp *controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane, mac
 		}
 	}
 
-	kcp.Status.Replicas = int32(len(machines))
+	kcp.Status.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(len(machines)))
 	kcp.Status.ReadyReplicas = ptr.To(readyReplicas)
 	kcp.Status.AvailableReplicas = ptr.To(availableReplicas)
 	kcp.Status.UpToDateReplicas = ptr.To(upToDateReplicas)
diff --git a/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/status_test.go b/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/status_test.go
index d71d74442976..a8d8a9843c9e 100644
--- a/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/status_test.go
+++ b/controlplane/kubeadm/internal/controllers/status_test.go
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ func TestSetReplicas(t *testing.T) {
 	setReplicas(ctx, c.KCP, c.Machines)
 
 	g.Expect(kcp.Status).ToNot(BeNil())
-	g.Expect(kcp.Status.Replicas).To(Equal(int32(6)))
+	g.Expect(kcp.Status.Replicas).ToNot(BeNil())
+	g.Expect(*kcp.Status.Replicas).To(Equal(int32(6)))
 	g.Expect(kcp.Status.ReadyReplicas).ToNot(BeNil())
 	g.Expect(*kcp.Status.ReadyReplicas).To(Equal(int32(3)))
 	g.Expect(kcp.Status.AvailableReplicas).ToNot(BeNil())
@@ -304,7 +305,7 @@ func Test_setScalingUpCondition(t *testing.T) {
 			controlPlane: &internal.ControlPlane{
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					Spec:   controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
-					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 3},
+					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1"}},
@@ -323,7 +324,7 @@ func Test_setScalingUpCondition(t *testing.T) {
 			controlPlane: &internal.ControlPlane{
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					Spec:   controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3)), MachineTemplate: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneMachineTemplate{InfrastructureRef: corev1.ObjectReference{Kind: "AWSTemplate"}}},
-					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 3},
+					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1"}},
@@ -344,7 +345,7 @@ func Test_setScalingUpCondition(t *testing.T) {
 			controlPlane: &internal.ControlPlane{
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					Spec:   controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(5))},
-					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 3},
+					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1"}},
@@ -365,7 +366,7 @@ func Test_setScalingUpCondition(t *testing.T) {
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{DeletionTimestamp: ptr.To(metav1.Time{Time: time.Now()})},
 					Spec:       controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(5))},
-					Status:     controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 3},
+					Status:     controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1"}},
@@ -384,7 +385,7 @@ func Test_setScalingUpCondition(t *testing.T) {
 			controlPlane: &internal.ControlPlane{
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					Spec:   controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(5)), MachineTemplate: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneMachineTemplate{InfrastructureRef: corev1.ObjectReference{Kind: "AWSTemplate"}}},
-					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 3},
+					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1"}},
@@ -413,7 +414,7 @@ func Test_setScalingUpCondition(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					Spec:   controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(5))},
-					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 3},
+					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1"}},
@@ -475,7 +476,7 @@ func Test_setScalingDownCondition(t *testing.T) {
 			controlPlane: &internal.ControlPlane{
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					Spec:   controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
-					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 3},
+					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1"}},
@@ -494,7 +495,7 @@ func Test_setScalingDownCondition(t *testing.T) {
 			controlPlane: &internal.ControlPlane{
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					Spec:   controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
-					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 5},
+					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(5))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1"}},
@@ -517,7 +518,7 @@ func Test_setScalingDownCondition(t *testing.T) {
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{DeletionTimestamp: ptr.To(metav1.Time{Time: time.Now()})},
 					Spec:       controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
-					Status:     controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 5},
+					Status:     controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(5))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1"}},
@@ -539,7 +540,7 @@ func Test_setScalingDownCondition(t *testing.T) {
 			controlPlane: &internal.ControlPlane{
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					Spec:   controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(1))},
-					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 3},
+					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1", DeletionTimestamp: ptr.To(metav1.Time{Time: time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Hour)})},
@@ -579,7 +580,7 @@ After above Pods have been removed from the Node, the following Pods will be evi
 			controlPlane: &internal.ControlPlane{
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					Spec:   controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(1))},
-					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 3},
+					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1", DeletionTimestamp: ptr.To(metav1.Time{Time: time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Hour)})}},
@@ -607,7 +608,7 @@ After above Pods have been removed from the Node, the following Pods will be evi
 				},
 				KCP: &controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlane{
 					Spec:   controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneSpec{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(1))},
-					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: 3},
+					Status: controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus{Replicas: ptr.To(int32(3))},
 				},
 				Machines: collections.FromMachines(
 					&clusterv1.Machine{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "m1"}},
diff --git a/docs/book/src/developer/providers/migrations/v1.10-to-v1.11.md b/docs/book/src/developer/providers/migrations/v1.10-to-v1.11.md
index 7c4472cdcbd5..0d8252869a8b 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/developer/providers/migrations/v1.10-to-v1.11.md
+++ b/docs/book/src/developer/providers/migrations/v1.10-to-v1.11.md
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ proposal because most of the changes described below are a consequence of the wo
 - See changes that apply to [all CRDs](#all-crds)
 - The `spec.progressDeadlineSeconds` field (deprecated since CAPI v1.9) has been removed
 - Replica counters are now consistent with replica counters from other resources
+  - `status.replicas` was made a pointer and omitempty was added
   - `status.readyReplicas` has now a new semantic based on machine's `Ready` condition
   - `status.availableReplicas` has now a new semantic based on machine's `Available` condition
   - `status.upToDateReplicas` has now a new semantic (and name) based on machine's `UpToDate` condition
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ proposal because most of the changes described below are a consequence of the wo
 
 - See changes that apply to [all CRDs](#all-crds)
 - Replica counters fields are now consistent with replica counters from other resources
+  - `status.replicas` was made a pointer and omitempty was added
   - `status.readyReplicas` has now a new semantic based on machine's `Ready` condition
   - `status.availableReplicas` has now a new semantic based on machine's `Available` condition
   - `status.upToDateReplicas` has now a new semantic (and name) based on machine's `UpToDate` condition
@@ -121,6 +123,7 @@ proposal because most of the changes described below are a consequence of the wo
 ### MachinePool
 
 - See changes that apply to [all CRDs](#all-crds)
+- `status.replicas` was made a pointer and omitempty was added
 - Support for terminal errors has been dropped.
   - `status.failureReason` and `status.failureMessage` will continue to exist temporarily under `status.deprecated.v1beta1`.
   - The const values for `Failed` phase has been deprecated in the enum type for `status.phase` (controllers are not setting this value anymore)
@@ -165,6 +168,7 @@ proposal because most of the changes described below are a consequence of the wo
 - KubeadmControlPlane (and the entire KCP provider) now implements the v1beta2 Cluster API contract.
 - See changes that apply to [all CRDs](#all-crds)
 - Replica counters fields are now consistent with replica counters from other resources.
+  - `status.replicas` was made a pointer and omitempty was added
   - `status.readyReplicas` has now a new semantic based on machine's `Ready` condition
   - `status.availableReplicas` has now a new semantic based on machine's `Available` condition
   - `status.upToDateReplicas` has now a new semantic (and name) based on machine's `UpToDate` condition
diff --git a/exp/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go b/exp/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go
index 86f8146d3359..d06e1fb00f29 100644
--- a/exp/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go
+++ b/exp/api/v1beta1/conversion_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	fuzz "github.com/google/gofuzz"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/apitesting/fuzzer"
 	runtimeserializer "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/serializer"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 
 	expv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/exp/api/v1beta2"
 	utilconversion "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conversion"
@@ -63,6 +64,12 @@ func hubMachinePoolStatus(in *expv1.MachinePoolStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
 			in.Initialization = nil
 		}
 	}
+
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func spokeMachinePoolStatus(in *MachinePoolStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
diff --git a/exp/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go b/exp/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go
index 31ab13aa0076..31276b4c09a9 100644
--- a/exp/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/exp/api/v1beta1/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -213,7 +213,9 @@ func Convert_v1beta2_MachinePoolSpec_To_v1beta1_MachinePoolSpec(in *v1beta2.Mach
 
 func autoConvert_v1beta1_MachinePoolStatus_To_v1beta2_MachinePoolStatus(in *MachinePoolStatus, out *v1beta2.MachinePoolStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.NodeRefs = *(*[]corev1.ObjectReference)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.NodeRefs))
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -256,7 +258,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachinePoolStatus_To_v1beta1_MachinePoolStatus(in *v1be
 	}
 	// WARNING: in.Initialization requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.NodeRefs = *(*[]corev1.ObjectReference)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.NodeRefs))
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/exp/api/v1beta2/machinepool_types.go b/exp/api/v1beta2/machinepool_types.go
index 54906108d988..0c4b91314cf1 100644
--- a/exp/api/v1beta2/machinepool_types.go
+++ b/exp/api/v1beta2/machinepool_types.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ type MachinePoolStatus struct {
 
 	// replicas is the most recently observed number of replicas.
 	// +optional
-	Replicas int32 `json:"replicas"`
+	Replicas *int32 `json:"replicas,omitempty"`
 
 	// readyReplicas is the number of ready replicas for this MachinePool. A machine is considered ready when Machine's Ready condition is true.
 	// +optional
diff --git a/exp/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/exp/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index 8ac7af8383ce..353ba1123848 100644
--- a/exp/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/exp/api/v1beta2/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -178,6 +178,11 @@ func (in *MachinePoolStatus) DeepCopyInto(out *MachinePoolStatus) {
 		*out = make([]corev1.ObjectReference, len(*in))
 		copy(*out, *in)
 	}
+	if in.Replicas != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Replicas, &out.Replicas
+		*out = new(int32)
+		**out = **in
+	}
 	if in.ReadyReplicas != nil {
 		in, out := &in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas
 		*out = new(int32)
diff --git a/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_noderef.go b/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_noderef.go
index 364206e10625..ee96979fa6a8 100644
--- a/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_noderef.go
+++ b/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_noderef.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ func (r *MachinePoolReconciler) reconcileNodeRefs(ctx context.Context, s *scope)
 	if mp.Status.Deprecated != nil && mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1 != nil {
 		readyReplicas = mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas
 	}
-	if mp.Status.Replicas == readyReplicas && len(mp.Status.NodeRefs) == int(readyReplicas) {
+	if ptr.Deref(mp.Status.Replicas, 0) == readyReplicas && len(mp.Status.NodeRefs) == int(readyReplicas) {
 		v1beta1conditions.MarkTrue(mp, expv1.ReplicasReadyV1Beta1Condition)
 		return ctrl.Result{}, nil
 	}
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ func (r *MachinePoolReconciler) reconcileNodeRefs(ctx context.Context, s *scope)
 	}
 	mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas = int32(nodeRefsResult.ready)
 	mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.AvailableReplicas = int32(nodeRefsResult.available)
-	mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.UnavailableReplicas = mp.Status.Replicas - mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.AvailableReplicas
+	mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.UnavailableReplicas = ptr.Deref(mp.Status.Replicas, 0) - mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.AvailableReplicas
 	mp.Status.NodeRefs = nodeRefsResult.references
 
 	log.Info("Set MachinePool's NodeRefs", "nodeRefs", mp.Status.NodeRefs)
@@ -126,8 +127,8 @@ func (r *MachinePoolReconciler) reconcileNodeRefs(ctx context.Context, s *scope)
 		return ctrl.Result{}, err
 	}
 
-	if mp.Status.Replicas != mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas || len(nodeRefsResult.references) != int(mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas) {
-		log.Info("Not enough ready replicas or node references", "nodeRefs", len(nodeRefsResult.references), "readyReplicas", mp.Status.ReadyReplicas, "replicas", mp.Status.Replicas)
+	if ptr.Deref(mp.Status.Replicas, 0) != mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas || len(nodeRefsResult.references) != int(mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas) {
+		log.Info("Not enough ready replicas or node references", "nodeRefs", len(nodeRefsResult.references), "readyReplicas", mp.Status.ReadyReplicas, "replicas", ptr.Deref(mp.Status.Replicas, 0))
 		v1beta1conditions.MarkFalse(mp, expv1.ReplicasReadyV1Beta1Condition, expv1.WaitingForReplicasReadyV1Beta1Reason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityInfo, "")
 		return ctrl.Result{RequeueAfter: 30 * time.Second}, nil
 	}
diff --git a/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_phases.go b/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_phases.go
index a35e2dec3b4a..5d4275bf93fd 100644
--- a/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_phases.go
+++ b/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_phases.go
@@ -346,8 +346,8 @@ func (r *MachinePoolReconciler) reconcileInfrastructure(ctx context.Context, s *
 		}
 	}
 
-	if len(providerIDList) == 0 && mp.Status.Replicas != 0 {
-		log.Info("Retrieved empty spec.providerIDList from infrastructure provider but status.replicas is not zero.", "replicas", mp.Status.Replicas)
+	if len(providerIDList) == 0 && ptr.Deref(mp.Status.Replicas, 0) != 0 {
+		log.Info("Retrieved empty spec.providerIDList from infrastructure provider but status.replicas is not zero.", "replicas", ptr.Deref(mp.Status.Replicas, 0))
 		return ctrl.Result{}, nil
 	}
 
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ func (r *MachinePoolReconciler) reconcileInfrastructure(ctx context.Context, s *
 		}
 		mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas = 0
 		mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.AvailableReplicas = 0
-		mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.UnavailableReplicas = mp.Status.Replicas
+		mp.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.UnavailableReplicas = ptr.Deref(mp.Status.Replicas, 0)
 	}
 
 	return ctrl.Result{}, nil
diff --git a/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_phases_test.go b/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_phases_test.go
index 077c6ab108a6..b9027869d960 100644
--- a/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_phases_test.go
+++ b/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_phases_test.go
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ func TestReconcileMachinePoolPhases(t *testing.T) {
 				ReadyReplicas: 1,
 			},
 		}
-		machinePool.Status.Replicas = 1
+		machinePool.Status.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(1))
 
 		fakeClient := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithObjects(defaultCluster, defaultKubeconfigSecret, machinePool, bootstrapConfig, infraConfig, builder.TestBootstrapConfigCRD, builder.TestInfrastructureMachineTemplateCRD).Build()
 		r := &MachinePoolReconciler{
@@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ func TestReconcileMachinePoolPhases(t *testing.T) {
 				ReadyReplicas: 1,
 			},
 		}
-		machinePool.Status.Replicas = 1
+		machinePool.Status.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(1))
 
 		fakeClient := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithObjects(defaultCluster, defaultKubeconfigSecret, machinePool, bootstrapConfig, infraConfig, builder.TestBootstrapConfigCRD, builder.TestInfrastructureMachineTemplateCRD).Build()
 		r := &MachinePoolReconciler{
diff --git a/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_test.go b/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_test.go
index 41207cb83321..effd5adb99ea 100644
--- a/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_test.go
+++ b/exp/internal/controllers/machinepool_controller_test.go
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ func TestReconcileMachinePoolRequest(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 				Status: expv1.MachinePoolStatus{
-					Replicas: 1,
+					Replicas: ptr.To(int32(1)),
 					Deprecated: &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{
 						V1Beta1: &expv1.MachinePoolV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 							ReadyReplicas: 1,
@@ -1036,7 +1036,7 @@ func TestMachinePoolConditions(t *testing.T) {
 					{Name: "node-1"},
 					{Name: "azure-node-4"},
 				}
-				mp.Status.Replicas = 2
+				mp.Status.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(2))
 				if mp.Status.Deprecated == nil {
 					mp.Status.Deprecated = &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{}
 				}
diff --git a/exp/topology/desiredstate/desired_state_test.go b/exp/topology/desiredstate/desired_state_test.go
index 48f09cba408d..90382f354853 100644
--- a/exp/topology/desiredstate/desired_state_test.go
+++ b/exp/topology/desiredstate/desired_state_test.go
@@ -1858,7 +1858,7 @@ func TestComputeMachineDeployment(t *testing.T) {
 						WithVersion(*tt.currentMDVersion).
 						WithStatus(clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
 							ObservedGeneration: 2,
-							Replicas:           2,
+							Replicas:           ptr.To[int32](2),
 							ReadyReplicas:      ptr.To[int32](2),
 							UpToDateReplicas:   ptr.To[int32](2),
 							AvailableReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](2),
@@ -2256,7 +2256,7 @@ func TestComputeMachinePool(t *testing.T) {
 						WithVersion(*tt.currentMPVersion).
 						WithStatus(expv1.MachinePoolStatus{
 							ObservedGeneration: 2,
-							Replicas:           2,
+							Replicas:           ptr.To(int32(2)),
 							Deprecated: &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{
 								V1Beta1: &expv1.MachinePoolV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 									ReadyReplicas:     2,
diff --git a/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go b/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go
index 56e32cc045be..fa098474e533 100644
--- a/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go
+++ b/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	fuzz "github.com/google/gofuzz"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/apitesting/fuzzer"
 	runtimeserializer "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/serializer"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 
 	bootstrapv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/bootstrap/kubeadm/api/v1beta2"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/bootstrap/kubeadm/types/upstreamv1beta1"
@@ -81,6 +82,12 @@ func hubKubeadmControlPlaneStatus(in *controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus,
 			in.Initialization = nil
 		}
 	}
+
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func spokeKubeadmControlPlaneStatus(in *KubeadmControlPlaneStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
diff --git a/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go b/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
index 65340cc75e47..21b3648529ac 100644
--- a/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -228,7 +228,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_KubeadmControlPlaneSpec_To_v1alpha3_KubeadmControlPlane
 
 func autoConvert_v1alpha3_KubeadmControlPlaneStatus_To_v1beta2_KubeadmControlPlaneStatus(in *KubeadmControlPlaneStatus, out *v1beta2.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	// WARNING: in.UpdatedReplicas requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -267,7 +269,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_KubeadmControlPlaneStatus_To_v1alpha3_KubeadmControlPla
 	}
 	// WARNING: in.Initialization requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go b/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go
index 67f771955c16..ff1e557eef84 100644
--- a/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go
+++ b/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/apitesting/fuzzer"
 	runtimeserializer "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/serializer"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 
 	bootstrapv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/bootstrap/kubeadm/api/v1beta2"
 	controlplanev1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/controlplane/kubeadm/api/v1beta2"
@@ -92,6 +93,12 @@ func hubKubeadmControlPlaneStatus(in *controlplanev1.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus,
 			in.Initialization = nil
 		}
 	}
+
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func spokeKubeadmControlPlaneStatus(in *KubeadmControlPlaneStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
diff --git a/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go b/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go
index 4c70412e0b40..de2778eddbad 100644
--- a/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/internal/apis/controlplane/kubeadm/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -333,7 +333,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_KubeadmControlPlaneSpec_To_v1alpha4_KubeadmControlPlane
 
 func autoConvert_v1alpha4_KubeadmControlPlaneStatus_To_v1beta2_KubeadmControlPlaneStatus(in *KubeadmControlPlaneStatus, out *v1beta2.KubeadmControlPlaneStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	out.Version = (*string)(unsafe.Pointer(in.Version))
 	// WARNING: in.UpdatedReplicas requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
@@ -373,7 +375,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_KubeadmControlPlaneStatus_To_v1alpha4_KubeadmControlPla
 	}
 	// WARNING: in.Initialization requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go b/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go
index 5d1aab70323a..eaf68cfdb2fc 100644
--- a/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go
+++ b/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	fuzz "github.com/google/gofuzz"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/apitesting/fuzzer"
 	runtimeserializer "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/serializer"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 
 	expv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/exp/api/v1beta2"
 	clusterv1alpha3 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/internal/apis/core/v1alpha3"
@@ -66,6 +67,12 @@ func hubMachinePoolStatus(in *expv1.MachinePoolStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
 			in.Initialization = nil
 		}
 	}
+
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func spokeBootstrap(in *clusterv1alpha3.Bootstrap, c fuzz.Continue) {
diff --git a/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go b/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
index c9f4bf10f863..287a573e9b6b 100644
--- a/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -199,7 +199,9 @@ func Convert_v1beta2_MachinePoolSpec_To_v1alpha3_MachinePoolSpec(in *v1beta2.Mac
 
 func autoConvert_v1alpha3_MachinePoolStatus_To_v1beta2_MachinePoolStatus(in *MachinePoolStatus, out *v1beta2.MachinePoolStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.NodeRefs = *(*[]corev1.ObjectReference)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.NodeRefs))
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -241,7 +243,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachinePoolStatus_To_v1alpha3_MachinePoolStatus(in *v1b
 	}
 	// WARNING: in.Initialization requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.NodeRefs = *(*[]corev1.ObjectReference)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.NodeRefs))
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go b/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go
index 7a67734b0967..056a5526b78b 100644
--- a/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go
+++ b/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	fuzz "github.com/google/gofuzz"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/apitesting/fuzzer"
 	runtimeserializer "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/serializer"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 
 	expv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/exp/api/v1beta2"
 	utilconversion "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/util/conversion"
@@ -62,4 +63,10 @@ func hubMachinePoolStatus(in *expv1.MachinePoolStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
 			in.Initialization = nil
 		}
 	}
+
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go b/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go
index d8ae37421c6d..3fd640fed1fb 100644
--- a/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/internal/apis/core/exp/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -213,7 +213,9 @@ func Convert_v1beta2_MachinePoolSpec_To_v1alpha4_MachinePoolSpec(in *v1beta2.Mac
 
 func autoConvert_v1alpha4_MachinePoolStatus_To_v1beta2_MachinePoolStatus(in *MachinePoolStatus, out *v1beta2.MachinePoolStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.NodeRefs = *(*[]corev1.ObjectReference)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.NodeRefs))
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -255,7 +257,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachinePoolStatus_To_v1alpha4_MachinePoolStatus(in *v1b
 	}
 	// WARNING: in.Initialization requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.NodeRefs = *(*[]corev1.ObjectReference)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.NodeRefs))
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/apis/core/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go b/internal/apis/core/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go
index 5ea7f88eec48..b2a1e0163cfb 100644
--- a/internal/apis/core/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go
+++ b/internal/apis/core/v1alpha3/conversion_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	apiextensionsv1 "k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver/pkg/apis/apiextensions/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/apitesting/fuzzer"
 	runtimeserializer "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/serializer"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/conversion"
 
 	clusterv1 "sigs.k8s.io/cluster-api/api/v1beta2"
@@ -117,6 +118,11 @@ func hubMachineSetStatus(in *clusterv1.MachineSetStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
 	if in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 == nil {
 		in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 = &clusterv1.MachineSetV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{}
 	}
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func MachineDeploymentFuzzFunc(_ runtimeserializer.CodecFactory) []interface{} {
@@ -137,6 +143,11 @@ func hubMachineDeploymentStatus(in *clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus, c fuzz.Co
 	if in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 == nil {
 		in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 = &clusterv1.MachineDeploymentV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{}
 	}
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func spokeMachineDeploymentSpec(in *MachineDeploymentSpec, c fuzz.Continue) {
diff --git a/internal/apis/core/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go b/internal/apis/core/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
index b3c65aa871e7..834c642aec52 100644
--- a/internal/apis/core/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/internal/apis/core/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -806,7 +806,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachineDeploymentSpec_To_v1alpha3_MachineDeploymentSpec
 func autoConvert_v1alpha3_MachineDeploymentStatus_To_v1beta2_MachineDeploymentStatus(in *MachineDeploymentStatus, out *v1beta2.MachineDeploymentStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.ObservedGeneration = in.ObservedGeneration
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	// WARNING: in.UpdatedReplicas requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -823,7 +825,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachineDeploymentStatus_To_v1alpha3_MachineDeploymentSt
 	// WARNING: in.Conditions requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.ObservedGeneration = in.ObservedGeneration
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -1177,7 +1181,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachineSetSpec_To_v1alpha3_MachineSetSpec(in *v1beta2.M
 
 func autoConvert_v1alpha3_MachineSetStatus_To_v1beta2_MachineSetStatus(in *MachineSetStatus, out *v1beta2.MachineSetStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	// WARNING: in.FullyLabeledReplicas requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -1194,7 +1200,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1alpha3_MachineSetStatus_To_v1beta2_MachineSetStatus(in *Machi
 func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachineSetStatus_To_v1alpha3_MachineSetStatus(in *v1beta2.MachineSetStatus, out *MachineSetStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	// WARNING: in.Conditions requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/apis/core/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go b/internal/apis/core/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go
index 19ab37405bb5..ecb7d53790ff 100644
--- a/internal/apis/core/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go
+++ b/internal/apis/core/v1alpha4/conversion_test.go
@@ -203,6 +203,11 @@ func hubMachineSetStatus(in *clusterv1.MachineSetStatus, c fuzz.Continue) {
 	if in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 == nil {
 		in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 = &clusterv1.MachineSetV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{}
 	}
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func MachineDeploymentFuzzFuncs(_ runtimeserializer.CodecFactory) []interface{} {
@@ -221,6 +226,11 @@ func hubMachineDeploymentStatus(in *clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus, c fuzz.Co
 	if in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 == nil {
 		in.Deprecated.V1Beta1 = &clusterv1.MachineDeploymentV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{}
 	}
+	// nil becomes &0 after hub => spoke => hub conversion
+	// This is acceptable as usually Replicas is set and controllers using older apiVersions are not writing MachineSet status.
+	if in.Replicas == nil {
+		in.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(0))
+	}
 }
 
 func spokeMachineDeploymentSpec(in *MachineDeploymentSpec, c fuzz.Continue) {
diff --git a/internal/apis/core/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go b/internal/apis/core/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go
index 8156f2ad427e..ac8bf12c2626 100644
--- a/internal/apis/core/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/internal/apis/core/v1alpha4/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -1200,7 +1200,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachineDeploymentSpec_To_v1alpha4_MachineDeploymentSpec
 func autoConvert_v1alpha4_MachineDeploymentStatus_To_v1beta2_MachineDeploymentStatus(in *MachineDeploymentStatus, out *v1beta2.MachineDeploymentStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.ObservedGeneration = in.ObservedGeneration
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	// WARNING: in.UpdatedReplicas requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -1238,7 +1240,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachineDeploymentStatus_To_v1alpha4_MachineDeploymentSt
 	}
 	out.ObservedGeneration = in.ObservedGeneration
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -1617,7 +1621,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachineSetSpec_To_v1alpha4_MachineSetSpec(in *v1beta2.M
 
 func autoConvert_v1alpha4_MachineSetStatus_To_v1beta2_MachineSetStatus(in *MachineSetStatus, out *v1beta2.MachineSetStatus, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	// WARNING: in.FullyLabeledReplicas requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	if err := v1.Convert_int32_To_Pointer_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -1655,7 +1661,9 @@ func autoConvert_v1beta2_MachineSetStatus_To_v1alpha4_MachineSetStatus(in *v1bet
 		out.Conditions = nil
 	}
 	out.Selector = in.Selector
-	out.Replicas = in.Replicas
+	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.Replicas, &out.Replicas, s); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := v1.Convert_Pointer_int32_To_int32(&in.ReadyReplicas, &out.ReadyReplicas, s); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller_status.go b/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller_status.go
index 442bf9db9ca3..e2ec14014e23 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller_status.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller_status.go
@@ -211,7 +211,9 @@ func setWorkersReplicas(_ context.Context, cluster *clusterv1.Cluster, machinePo
 		if mp.Spec.Replicas != nil {
 			desiredReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(desiredReplicas, 0) + *mp.Spec.Replicas)
 		}
-		currentReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(currentReplicas, 0) + mp.Status.Replicas)
+		if mp.Status.Replicas != nil {
+			currentReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(currentReplicas, 0) + *mp.Status.Replicas)
+		}
 		if mp.Status.ReadyReplicas != nil {
 			readyReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(readyReplicas, 0) + *mp.Status.ReadyReplicas)
 		}
@@ -227,7 +229,9 @@ func setWorkersReplicas(_ context.Context, cluster *clusterv1.Cluster, machinePo
 		if md.Spec.Replicas != nil {
 			desiredReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(desiredReplicas, 0) + *md.Spec.Replicas)
 		}
-		currentReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(currentReplicas, 0) + md.Status.Replicas)
+		if md.Status.Replicas != nil {
+			currentReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(currentReplicas, 0) + *md.Status.Replicas)
+		}
 		if md.Status.ReadyReplicas != nil {
 			readyReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(readyReplicas, 0) + *md.Status.ReadyReplicas)
 		}
@@ -246,7 +250,9 @@ func setWorkersReplicas(_ context.Context, cluster *clusterv1.Cluster, machinePo
 		if ms.Spec.Replicas != nil {
 			desiredReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(desiredReplicas, 0) + *ms.Spec.Replicas)
 		}
-		currentReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(currentReplicas, 0) + ms.Status.Replicas)
+		if ms.Status.Replicas != nil {
+			currentReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(currentReplicas, 0) + *ms.Status.Replicas)
+		}
 		if ms.Status.ReadyReplicas != nil {
 			readyReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(readyReplicas, 0) + *ms.Status.ReadyReplicas)
 		}
diff --git a/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller_status_test.go b/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller_status_test.go
index 79f886db900d..d7ee3d71a1fb 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller_status_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/cluster/cluster_controller_status_test.go
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ func TestSetWorkersReplicas(t *testing.T) {
 				fakeMachine("m1"), // not owned by the cluster
 			),
 			getDescendantsSucceeded: true,
-			expectReplicas:          ptr.To(int32(0)), // Note: currently this is still not a pointer in v1beta1, but it should change in v1beta2
+			expectReplicas:          nil,
 		},
 		{
 			name:    "should count workers from different objects",
@@ -3077,15 +3077,15 @@ func (r currentReplicas) ApplyToControlPlane(cp *unstructured.Unstructured) {
 }
 
 func (r currentReplicas) ApplyToMachinePool(mp *expv1.MachinePool) {
-	mp.Status.Replicas = int32(r)
+	mp.Status.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(r))
 }
 
 func (r currentReplicas) ApplyToMachineDeployment(md *clusterv1.MachineDeployment) {
-	md.Status.Replicas = int32(r)
+	md.Status.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(r))
 }
 
 func (r currentReplicas) ApplyToMachineSet(ms *clusterv1.MachineSet) {
-	ms.Status.Replicas = int32(r)
+	ms.Status.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(r))
 }
 
 type readyReplicas int32
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_controller_test.go b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_controller_test.go
index 5327d9f5f830..ff752dbe8253 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_controller_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_controller_test.go
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ func TestMachineDeploymentReconciler(t *testing.T) {
 				fakeMachineNodeRef(&m, providerID, g)
 			}
 
-			return newms.Status.Replicas == desiredMachineDeploymentReplicas
+			return ptr.Deref(newms.Status.Replicas, 0) == desiredMachineDeploymentReplicas
 		}, timeout*5).Should(BeTrue())
 
 		t.Log("Verifying MachineDeployment has correct Conditions")
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_rolling_test.go b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_rolling_test.go
index 5977f34b7623..57c408d985ad 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_rolling_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_rolling_test.go
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ func TestReconcileNewMachineSet(t *testing.T) {
 						Replicas: ptr.To[int32](3),
 					},
 					Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
-						Replicas: 3,
+						Replicas: ptr.To[int32](3),
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ func TestReconcileNewMachineSet(t *testing.T) {
 						Replicas: ptr.To[int32](0),
 					},
 					Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
-						Replicas: 1,
+						Replicas: ptr.To[int32](1),
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ func TestReconcileOldMachineSets(t *testing.T) {
 					Replicas: ptr.To[int32](5),
 				},
 				Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
-					Replicas: 5,
+					Replicas: ptr.To[int32](5),
 				},
 			},
 			oldMachineSets: []*clusterv1.MachineSet{
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ func TestReconcileOldMachineSets(t *testing.T) {
 						Replicas: ptr.To[int32](8),
 					},
 					Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
-						Replicas:          10,
+						Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](10),
 						ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](8),
 						AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](8),
 					},
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_status.go b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_status.go
index 3fa78b49a8ef..da8d54835237 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_status.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_status.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ func setPhase(_ context.Context, machineDeployment *clusterv1.MachineDeployment,
 	}
 
 	desiredReplicas := *machineDeployment.Spec.Replicas
-	currentReplicas := mdutil.GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets(machineSets)
+	currentReplicas := ptr.Deref(mdutil.GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets(machineSets), 0)
 
 	switch {
 	case desiredReplicas == currentReplicas:
@@ -278,7 +279,7 @@ func setScalingUpCondition(_ context.Context, machineDeployment *clusterv1.Machi
 	if !machineDeployment.DeletionTimestamp.IsZero() {
 		desiredReplicas = 0
 	}
-	currentReplicas := mdutil.GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets(machineSets)
+	currentReplicas := ptr.Deref(mdutil.GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets(machineSets), 0)
 
 	missingReferencesMessage := calculateMissingReferencesMessage(machineDeployment, bootstrapObjectNotFound, infrastructureObjectNotFound)
 
@@ -337,7 +338,7 @@ func setScalingDownCondition(_ context.Context, machineDeployment *clusterv1.Mac
 	if !machineDeployment.DeletionTimestamp.IsZero() {
 		desiredReplicas = 0
 	}
-	currentReplicas := mdutil.GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets(machineSets)
+	currentReplicas := ptr.Deref(mdutil.GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets(machineSets), 0)
 
 	// Scaling down.
 	if currentReplicas > desiredReplicas {
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_status_test.go b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_status_test.go
index b860ab6f856b..91a7df4cd248 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_status_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_status_test.go
@@ -1317,7 +1317,7 @@ func fakeMachineSet(name string, options ...fakeMachineSetOption) *clusterv1.Mac
 
 func withStatusReplicas(n int32) fakeMachineSetOption {
 	return func(ms *clusterv1.MachineSet) {
-		ms.Status.Replicas = n
+		ms.Status.Replicas = ptr.To(n)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_sync.go b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_sync.go
index 7ea66b4d7284..8899cba4a864 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_sync.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_sync.go
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ func calculateV1Beta1Status(allMSs []*clusterv1.MachineSet, newMS *clusterv1.Mac
 		deployment.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1 = &clusterv1.MachineDeploymentV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{}
 	}
 
-	deployment.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.UpdatedReplicas = mdutil.GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets([]*clusterv1.MachineSet{newMS})
+	deployment.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.UpdatedReplicas = ptr.Deref(mdutil.GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets([]*clusterv1.MachineSet{newMS}), 0)
 	deployment.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas = mdutil.GetV1Beta1ReadyReplicaCountForMachineSets(allMSs)
 	deployment.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.AvailableReplicas = availableReplicas
 	deployment.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.UnavailableReplicas = unavailableReplicas
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ func (r *Reconciler) cleanupDeployment(ctx context.Context, oldMSs []*clusterv1.
 		}
 
 		// Avoid delete machine set with non-zero replica counts
-		if ms.Status.Replicas != 0 || *(ms.Spec.Replicas) != 0 || ms.Generation > ms.Status.ObservedGeneration || !ms.DeletionTimestamp.IsZero() {
+		if ptr.Deref(ms.Status.Replicas, 0) != 0 || *(ms.Spec.Replicas) != 0 || ms.Generation > ms.Status.ObservedGeneration || !ms.DeletionTimestamp.IsZero() {
 			continue
 		}
 
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_sync_test.go b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_sync_test.go
index b2ec72f49cec..2217b8536cd5 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_sync_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/machinedeployment_sync_test.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func TestCalculateV1Beta1Status(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 				Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
 					Selector: "",
-					Replicas: 2,
+					Replicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
 					Deprecated: &clusterv1.MachineSetDeprecatedStatus{
 						V1Beta1: &clusterv1.MachineSetV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 							AvailableReplicas: 2,
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func TestCalculateV1Beta1Status(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 				Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
 					Selector: "",
-					Replicas: 2,
+					Replicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
 					Deprecated: &clusterv1.MachineSetDeprecatedStatus{
 						V1Beta1: &clusterv1.MachineSetV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 							AvailableReplicas: 2,
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestCalculateV1Beta1Status(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 				Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
 					Selector: "",
-					Replicas: 2,
+					Replicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
 					Deprecated: &clusterv1.MachineSetDeprecatedStatus{
 						V1Beta1: &clusterv1.MachineSetV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 							AvailableReplicas: 1,
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func TestCalculateV1Beta1Status(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 				Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
 					Selector: "",
-					Replicas: 2,
+					Replicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
 					Deprecated: &clusterv1.MachineSetDeprecatedStatus{
 						V1Beta1: &clusterv1.MachineSetV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 							AvailableReplicas: 1,
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func TestCalculateV1Beta1Status(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 				Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
 					Selector: "",
-					Replicas: 2,
+					Replicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
 					Deprecated: &clusterv1.MachineSetDeprecatedStatus{
 						V1Beta1: &clusterv1.MachineSetV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 							AvailableReplicas: 3,
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func TestCalculateV1Beta1Status(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 				Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
 					Selector: "",
-					Replicas: 2,
+					Replicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
 					Deprecated: &clusterv1.MachineSetDeprecatedStatus{
 						V1Beta1: &clusterv1.MachineSetV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 							AvailableReplicas: 3,
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ func newTestMachineDeployment(replicas, statusReplicas, upToDateReplicas, availa
 			},
 		},
 		Status: clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
-			Replicas:          statusReplicas,
+			Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](statusReplicas),
 			UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](upToDateReplicas),
 			AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](availableReplicas),
 		},
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ func newTestMachinesetWithReplicas(name string, specReplicas, statusReplicas, av
 			Replicas: ptr.To[int32](specReplicas),
 		},
 		Status: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
-			Replicas:          statusReplicas,
+			Replicas:          ptr.To(statusReplicas),
 			AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](availableReplicas),
 			Deprecated: &clusterv1.MachineSetDeprecatedStatus{
 				V1Beta1: &clusterv1.MachineSetV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/mdutil/util.go b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/mdutil/util.go
index e39f07c4f82d..c09b54f3af68 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/mdutil/util.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/mdutil/util.go
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ func getMachineSetFraction(ms clusterv1.MachineSet, md clusterv1.MachineDeployme
 		// will not be an accurate proportion estimation in case other machine sets have different values
 		// which means that the deployment was scaled at some point but we at least will stay in limits
 		// due to the min-max comparisons in getProportion.
-		annotatedReplicas = md.Status.Replicas
+		annotatedReplicas = ptr.Deref(md.Status.Replicas, 0)
 	}
 
 	// We should never proportionally scale up from zero which means ms.spec.replicas and annotatedReplicas
@@ -539,11 +539,11 @@ func GetReplicaCountForMachineSets(machineSets []*clusterv1.MachineSet) int32 {
 }
 
 // GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets returns the sum of actual replicas of the given machine sets.
-func GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets(machineSets []*clusterv1.MachineSet) int32 {
-	totalActualReplicas := int32(0)
+func GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets(machineSets []*clusterv1.MachineSet) *int32 {
+	var totalActualReplicas *int32
 	for _, ms := range machineSets {
-		if ms != nil {
-			totalActualReplicas += ms.Status.Replicas
+		if ms != nil && ms.Status.Replicas != nil {
+			totalActualReplicas = ptr.To(ptr.Deref(totalActualReplicas, 0) + *ms.Status.Replicas)
 		}
 	}
 	return totalActualReplicas
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ func TotalMachineSetsReplicaSum(machineSets []*clusterv1.MachineSet) int32 {
 	totalReplicas := int32(0)
 	for _, ms := range machineSets {
 		if ms != nil {
-			totalReplicas += max(*(ms.Spec.Replicas), ms.Status.Replicas)
+			totalReplicas += max(ptr.Deref(ms.Spec.Replicas, 0), ptr.Deref(ms.Status.Replicas, 0))
 		}
 	}
 	return totalReplicas
@@ -639,10 +639,11 @@ func IsRollingUpdate(deployment *clusterv1.MachineDeployment) bool {
 // DeploymentComplete considers a deployment to be complete once all of its desired replicas
 // are updated and available, and no old machines are running.
 func DeploymentComplete(deployment *clusterv1.MachineDeployment, newStatus *clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus) bool {
+	currentReplicas := ptr.Deref(newStatus.Replicas, 0)
 	updatedReplicas := ptr.Deref(newStatus.UpToDateReplicas, 0)
 	availableReplicas := ptr.Deref(newStatus.AvailableReplicas, 0)
 	return updatedReplicas == *(deployment.Spec.Replicas) &&
-		newStatus.Replicas == *(deployment.Spec.Replicas) &&
+		currentReplicas == *(deployment.Spec.Replicas) &&
 		availableReplicas == *(deployment.Spec.Replicas) &&
 		newStatus.ObservedGeneration >= deployment.Generation
 }
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/mdutil/util_test.go b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/mdutil/util_test.go
index f5228b732470..6fa108637db7 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/mdutil/util_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machinedeployment/mdutil/util_test.go
@@ -612,10 +612,10 @@ func TestFindOldMachineSets(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetReplicaCountForMachineSets(t *testing.T) {
 	ms1 := generateMS(generateDeployment("foo"))
 	*(ms1.Spec.Replicas) = 1
-	ms1.Status.Replicas = 2
+	ms1.Status.Replicas = ptr.To[int32](2)
 	ms2 := generateMS(generateDeployment("bar"))
 	*(ms2.Spec.Replicas) = 5
-	ms2.Status.Replicas = 3
+	ms2.Status.Replicas = ptr.To[int32](3)
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		Name           string
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ func TestGetReplicaCountForMachineSets(t *testing.T) {
 			g := NewWithT(t)
 
 			g.Expect(GetReplicaCountForMachineSets(test.Sets)).To(Equal(test.ExpectedCount))
-			g.Expect(GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets(test.Sets)).To(Equal(test.ExpectedActual))
+			g.Expect(ptr.Deref(GetActualReplicaCountForMachineSets(test.Sets), 0)).To(Equal(test.ExpectedActual))
 			g.Expect(TotalMachineSetsReplicaSum(test.Sets)).To(Equal(test.ExpectedTotal))
 		})
 	}
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ func TestDeploymentComplete(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Status: clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
-				Replicas:          current,
+				Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](current),
 				UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](upToDate),
 				AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](available),
 			},
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller.go b/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller.go
index e0389b0c5c8b..57ea0fcaa0c9 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller.go
@@ -1178,6 +1178,7 @@ func (r *Reconciler) reconcileV1Beta1Status(ctx context.Context, s *scope) error
 	if !ms.DeletionTimestamp.IsZero() {
 		desiredReplicas = 0
 	}
+	currentReplicas := ptr.Deref(ms.Status.Replicas, 0)
 	templateLabel := labels.Set(ms.Spec.Template.Labels).AsSelectorPreValidated()
 
 	for _, machine := range filteredMachines {
@@ -1220,18 +1221,18 @@ func (r *Reconciler) reconcileV1Beta1Status(ctx context.Context, s *scope) error
 
 	switch {
 	// We are scaling up
-	case ms.Status.Replicas < desiredReplicas:
-		v1beta1conditions.MarkFalse(ms, clusterv1.ResizedV1Beta1Condition, clusterv1.ScalingUpV1Beta1Reason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityWarning, "Scaling up MachineSet to %d replicas (actual %d)", desiredReplicas, ms.Status.Replicas)
+	case currentReplicas < desiredReplicas:
+		v1beta1conditions.MarkFalse(ms, clusterv1.ResizedV1Beta1Condition, clusterv1.ScalingUpV1Beta1Reason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityWarning, "Scaling up MachineSet to %d replicas (actual %d)", desiredReplicas, currentReplicas)
 	// We are scaling down
-	case ms.Status.Replicas > desiredReplicas:
-		v1beta1conditions.MarkFalse(ms, clusterv1.ResizedV1Beta1Condition, clusterv1.ScalingDownV1Beta1Reason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityWarning, "Scaling down MachineSet to %d replicas (actual %d)", desiredReplicas, ms.Status.Replicas)
+	case currentReplicas > desiredReplicas:
+		v1beta1conditions.MarkFalse(ms, clusterv1.ResizedV1Beta1Condition, clusterv1.ScalingDownV1Beta1Reason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityWarning, "Scaling down MachineSet to %d replicas (actual %d)", desiredReplicas, currentReplicas)
 		// This means that there was no error in generating the desired number of machine objects
 		v1beta1conditions.MarkTrue(ms, clusterv1.MachinesCreatedV1Beta1Condition)
 	default:
 		// Make sure last resize operation is marked as completed.
 		// NOTE: we are checking the number of machines ready so we report resize completed only when the machines
 		// are actually provisioned (vs reporting completed immediately after the last machine object is created). This convention is also used by KCP.
-		if ms.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas == ms.Status.Replicas {
+		if ms.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas == currentReplicas {
 			if v1beta1conditions.IsFalse(ms, clusterv1.ResizedV1Beta1Condition) {
 				log.Info("All the replicas are ready", "replicas", ms.Status.Deprecated.V1Beta1.ReadyReplicas)
 			}
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller_status.go b/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller_status.go
index 791d5a527091..5e031503d514 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller_status.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller_status.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func setReplicas(_ context.Context, ms *clusterv1.MachineSet, machines []*cluste
 		}
 	}
 
-	ms.Status.Replicas = int32(len(machines))
+	ms.Status.Replicas = ptr.To(int32(len(machines)))
 	ms.Status.ReadyReplicas = ptr.To(readyReplicas)
 	ms.Status.AvailableReplicas = ptr.To(availableReplicas)
 	ms.Status.UpToDateReplicas = ptr.To(upToDateReplicas)
diff --git a/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller_status_test.go b/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller_status_test.go
index 11e310dcfe46..012864095aed 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller_status_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/machineset/machineset_controller_status_test.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func Test_setReplicas(t *testing.T) {
 			machines: nil,
 			getAndAdoptMachinesForMachineSetSucceeded: true,
 			expectedStatus: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
-				Replicas:          int32(0),
+				Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](0),
 				ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](0),
 				AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](0),
 				UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](0),
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func Test_setReplicas(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			getAndAdoptMachinesForMachineSetSucceeded: true,
 			expectedStatus: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
-				Replicas:          int32(3),
+				Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](3),
 				ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](1),
 				AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](0),
 				UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](0),
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func Test_setReplicas(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			getAndAdoptMachinesForMachineSetSucceeded: true,
 			expectedStatus: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
-				Replicas:          int32(3),
+				Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](3),
 				ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](0),
 				AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](1),
 				UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](0),
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func Test_setReplicas(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			getAndAdoptMachinesForMachineSetSucceeded: true,
 			expectedStatus: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
-				Replicas:          int32(3),
+				Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](3),
 				ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](0),
 				AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](0),
 				UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](1),
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ func Test_setReplicas(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			getAndAdoptMachinesForMachineSetSucceeded: true,
 			expectedStatus: clusterv1.MachineSetStatus{
-				Replicas:          int32(1),
+				Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](1),
 				ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](1),
 				AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](1),
 				UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](1),
diff --git a/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/conditions_test.go b/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/conditions_test.go
index bfa952879ea8..d56a21f23a5c 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/conditions_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/conditions_test.go
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 							Object: builder.MachineDeployment("ns1", "md0-abc123").
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithStatus(clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
-									Replicas:          int32(1),
+									Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](1),
 									ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](1),
 									UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](1),
 									AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](1),
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 							Object: builder.MachinePool("ns1", "mp0-abc123").
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithStatus(expv1.MachinePoolStatus{
-									Replicas: int32(1),
+									Replicas: ptr.To(int32(1)),
 									Deprecated: &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{
 										V1Beta1: &expv1.MachinePoolV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 											ReadyReplicas:       int32(1),
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 							Object: builder.MachineDeployment("ns1", "md0-abc123").
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithStatus(clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
-									Replicas:          int32(2),
+									Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](2),
 									ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](2),
 									UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](2),
 									AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 							Object: builder.MachinePool("ns1", "mp0-abc123").
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithStatus(expv1.MachinePoolStatus{
-									Replicas: int32(2),
+									Replicas: ptr.To(int32(2)),
 									Deprecated: &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{
 										V1Beta1: &expv1.MachinePoolV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 											ReadyReplicas:       int32(2),
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								}).
 								WithStatus(clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
 									// MD is not ready because we don't have 2 updated, ready and available replicas.
-									Replicas:          int32(2),
+									Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](2),
 									ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](1),
 									UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](1),
 									AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](1),
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 									},
 								}).
 								WithStatus(clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
-									Replicas:          int32(2),
+									Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](2),
 									ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](2),
 									UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](2),
 									AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								WithVersion("v1.22.0").
 								WithStatus(expv1.MachinePoolStatus{
 									// mp is not ready because we don't have 2 updated, ready and available replicas.
-									Replicas: int32(2),
+									Replicas: ptr.To(int32(2)),
 									Deprecated: &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{
 										V1Beta1: &expv1.MachinePoolV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 											ReadyReplicas:       int32(1),
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithVersion("v1.21.2").
 								WithStatus(expv1.MachinePoolStatus{
-									Replicas: int32(2),
+									Replicas: ptr.To(int32(2)),
 									Deprecated: &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{
 										V1Beta1: &expv1.MachinePoolV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 											ReadyReplicas:       int32(2),
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithVersion("v1.22.0").
 								WithStatus(clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
-									Replicas:          int32(2),
+									Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](2),
 									ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](2),
 									UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](2),
 									AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithVersion("v1.21.2").
 								WithStatus(clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
-									Replicas:          int32(2),
+									Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](2),
 									ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](2),
 									UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](2),
 									AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithVersion("v1.22.0").
 								WithStatus(expv1.MachinePoolStatus{
-									Replicas: int32(2),
+									Replicas: ptr.To(int32(2)),
 									Deprecated: &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{
 										V1Beta1: &expv1.MachinePoolV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 											ReadyReplicas:       int32(2),
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithVersion("v1.21.2").
 								WithStatus(expv1.MachinePoolStatus{
-									Replicas: int32(2),
+									Replicas: ptr.To(int32(2)),
 									Deprecated: &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{
 										V1Beta1: &expv1.MachinePoolV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 											ReadyReplicas:       int32(2),
@@ -829,7 +829,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithVersion("v1.22.0").
 								WithStatus(clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
-									Replicas:          int32(1),
+									Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](1),
 									ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](1),
 									UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](1),
 									AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](1),
@@ -841,7 +841,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithVersion("v1.22.0").
 								WithStatus(clusterv1.MachineDeploymentStatus{
-									Replicas:          int32(2),
+									Replicas:          ptr.To[int32](2),
 									ReadyReplicas:     ptr.To[int32](2),
 									UpToDateReplicas:  ptr.To[int32](2),
 									AvailableReplicas: ptr.To[int32](2),
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithVersion("v1.22.0").
 								WithStatus(expv1.MachinePoolStatus{
-									Replicas: int32(1),
+									Replicas: ptr.To(int32(1)),
 									Deprecated: &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{
 										V1Beta1: &expv1.MachinePoolV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 											ReadyReplicas:       int32(1),
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ func TestReconcileTopologyReconciledCondition(t *testing.T) {
 								WithReplicas(2).
 								WithVersion("v1.22.0").
 								WithStatus(expv1.MachinePoolStatus{
-									Replicas: int32(2),
+									Replicas: ptr.To(int32(2)),
 									Deprecated: &expv1.MachinePoolDeprecatedStatus{
 										V1Beta1: &expv1.MachinePoolV1Beta1DeprecatedStatus{
 											ReadyReplicas:       int32(2),
diff --git a/internal/util/tree/tree.go b/internal/util/tree/tree.go
index c89a5b6cfb0a..9cc960e57ac4 100644
--- a/internal/util/tree/tree.go
+++ b/internal/util/tree/tree.go
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ func newRowDescriptor(obj ctrlclient.Object) rowDescriptor {
 		// If the object is a MachineDeployment, returns all the replica counters and pick the available condition
 		// as the condition to show for this object in case not all the conditions are visualized.
 		if obj.Spec.Replicas != nil {
-			v.replicas = fmt.Sprintf("%d/%d", *obj.Spec.Replicas, obj.Status.Replicas)
+			v.replicas = fmt.Sprintf("%d/%d", *obj.Spec.Replicas, ptr.Deref(obj.Status.Replicas, 0))
 		}
 		if obj.Status.AvailableReplicas != nil {
 			v.availableCounters = fmt.Sprintf("%d", *obj.Status.AvailableReplicas)
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ func newRowDescriptor(obj ctrlclient.Object) rowDescriptor {
 		// If the object is a MachineSet, returns all the replica counters and pick the available condition
 		// as the condition to show for this object in case not all the conditions are visualized.
 		if obj.Spec.Replicas != nil {
-			v.replicas = fmt.Sprintf("%d/%d", *obj.Spec.Replicas, obj.Status.Replicas)
+			v.replicas = fmt.Sprintf("%d/%d", *obj.Spec.Replicas, ptr.Deref(obj.Status.Replicas, 0))
 		}
 		if obj.Status.ReadyReplicas != nil {
 			v.availableCounters = fmt.Sprintf("%d", *obj.Status.AvailableReplicas)
diff --git a/test/framework/controlplane_helpers.go b/test/framework/controlplane_helpers.go
index 53d01518bcfe..03a4f881d217 100644
--- a/test/framework/controlplane_helpers.go
+++ b/test/framework/controlplane_helpers.go
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ func WaitForControlPlaneToBeReady(ctx context.Context, input WaitForControlPlane
 			return false, errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to get KCP")
 		}
 
-		desiredReplicas := controlplane.Spec.Replicas
-		statusReplicas := controlplane.Status.Replicas
+		desiredReplicas := ptr.Deref(controlplane.Spec.Replicas, 0)
+		statusReplicas := ptr.Deref(controlplane.Status.Replicas, 0)
 		upToDatedReplicas := ptr.Deref(controlplane.Status.UpToDateReplicas, 0)
 		readyReplicas := ptr.Deref(controlplane.Status.ReadyReplicas, 0)
 		availableReplicas := ptr.Deref(controlplane.Status.AvailableReplicas, 0)
@@ -181,10 +181,10 @@ func WaitForControlPlaneToBeReady(ctx context.Context, input WaitForControlPlane
 		// Control plane is still rolling out (and thus not ready) if:
 		// * .spec.replicas, .status.replicas, .status.upToDateReplicas,
 		//   .status.readyReplicas, .status.availableReplicas are not equal.
-		if statusReplicas != *desiredReplicas ||
-			upToDatedReplicas != *desiredReplicas ||
-			readyReplicas != *desiredReplicas ||
-			availableReplicas != *desiredReplicas {
+		if statusReplicas != desiredReplicas ||
+			upToDatedReplicas != desiredReplicas ||
+			readyReplicas != desiredReplicas ||
+			availableReplicas != desiredReplicas {
 			return false, nil
 		}
 
diff --git a/test/framework/machinedeployment_helpers.go b/test/framework/machinedeployment_helpers.go
index 324fb2713d46..db9d79d68d74 100644
--- a/test/framework/machinedeployment_helpers.go
+++ b/test/framework/machinedeployment_helpers.go
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ func UpgradeMachineDeploymentInfrastructureRefAndWait(ctx context.Context, input
 
 			// MachineSet should be rolled out.
 			g.Expect(newMachineSet.Spec.Replicas).To(Equal(deployment.Spec.Replicas))
-			g.Expect(*newMachineSet.Spec.Replicas).To(Equal(newMachineSet.Status.Replicas))
+			g.Expect(newMachineSet.Spec.Replicas).To(Equal(newMachineSet.Status.Replicas))
 			g.Expect(newMachineSet.Spec.Replicas).To(Equal(newMachineSet.Status.ReadyReplicas))
 			g.Expect(newMachineSet.Spec.Replicas).To(Equal(newMachineSet.Status.AvailableReplicas))
 
@@ -803,6 +803,6 @@ func AssertMachineDeploymentReplicas(ctx context.Context, input AssertMachineDep
 		g.Expect(input.Getter.Get(ctx, key, md)).To(Succeed(), fmt.Sprintf("failed to get MachineDeployment %s", klog.KObj(input.MachineDeployment)))
 		g.Expect(md.Spec.Replicas).Should(Not(BeNil()), fmt.Sprintf("MachineDeployment %s replicas should not be nil", klog.KObj(md)))
 		g.Expect(*md.Spec.Replicas).Should(Equal(input.Replicas), fmt.Sprintf("MachineDeployment %s replicas should match expected replicas", klog.KObj(md)))
-		g.Expect(md.Status.Replicas).Should(Equal(input.Replicas), fmt.Sprintf("MachineDeployment %s status.replicas should match expected replicas", klog.KObj(md)))
+		g.Expect(ptr.Deref(md.Status.Replicas, 0)).Should(Equal(input.Replicas), fmt.Sprintf("MachineDeployment %s status.replicas should match expected replicas", klog.KObj(md)))
 	}, input.WaitForMachineDeployment...).Should(Succeed())
 }
diff --git a/test/framework/machinepool_helpers.go b/test/framework/machinepool_helpers.go
index 35637b91bb83..9a7ebfe33b16 100644
--- a/test/framework/machinepool_helpers.go
+++ b/test/framework/machinepool_helpers.go
@@ -370,6 +370,6 @@ func AssertMachinePoolReplicas(ctx context.Context, input AssertMachinePoolRepli
 		g.Expect(input.Getter.Get(ctx, key, mp)).To(Succeed(), fmt.Sprintf("failed to get MachinePool %s", klog.KObj(input.MachinePool)))
 		g.Expect(mp.Spec.Replicas).Should(Not(BeNil()), fmt.Sprintf("MachinePool %s replicas should not be nil", klog.KObj(mp)))
 		g.Expect(*mp.Spec.Replicas).Should(Equal(input.Replicas), fmt.Sprintf("MachinePool %s replicas should match expected replicas", klog.KObj(mp)))
-		g.Expect(mp.Status.Replicas).Should(Equal(input.Replicas), fmt.Sprintf("MachinePool %s status.replicas should match expected replicas", klog.KObj(mp)))
+		g.Expect(ptr.Deref(mp.Status.Replicas, 0)).Should(Equal(input.Replicas), fmt.Sprintf("MachinePool %s status.replicas should match expected replicas", klog.KObj(mp)))
 	}, input.WaitForMachinePool...).Should(Succeed())
 }