diff --git a/pkg/yurthub/cachemanager/cache_manager.go b/pkg/yurthub/cachemanager/cache_manager.go
index 633c7b499e9..cc2de399bfc 100644
--- a/pkg/yurthub/cachemanager/cache_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/yurthub/cachemanager/cache_manager.go
@@ -325,15 +325,20 @@ func (cm *cacheManager) prepareGvkForListObj(gvr schema.GroupVersionResource) (s
 }
 
 func completeListObjWithObjs(listObj runtime.Object, objs []runtime.Object) error {
-	listRv := 0
-	rvStr := ""
-	rvInt := 0
+	var listRv uint64
 	accessor := meta.NewAccessor()
 	for i := range objs {
-		rvStr, _ = accessor.ResourceVersion(objs[i])
-		rvInt, _ = strconv.Atoi(rvStr)
-		if rvInt > listRv {
-			listRv = rvInt
+		rvStr, err := accessor.ResourceVersion(objs[i])
+		if err != nil || len(rvStr) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		rvUint, err := strconv.ParseUint(rvStr, 10, 64)
+		if err != nil {
+			klog.Warningf("failed to parse resourceVersion %q: %v", rvStr, err)
+			continue
+		}
+		if rvUint > listRv {
+			listRv = rvUint
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -341,7 +346,7 @@ func completeListObjWithObjs(listObj runtime.Object, objs []runtime.Object) erro
 		return fmt.Errorf("could not meta set list with %d objects, %v", len(objs), err)
 	}
 
-	return accessor.SetResourceVersion(listObj, strconv.Itoa(listRv))
+	return accessor.SetResourceVersion(listObj, strconv.FormatUint(listRv, 10))
 }
 
 func generateEmptyListObjOfGVK(listGvk schema.GroupVersionKind) (runtime.Object, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/yurthub/cachemanager/cache_manager_test.go b/pkg/yurthub/cachemanager/cache_manager_test.go
index ac46af22a1e..5d4937096b9 100644
--- a/pkg/yurthub/cachemanager/cache_manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yurthub/cachemanager/cache_manager_test.go
@@ -3455,3 +3455,60 @@ func TestIsListRequestWithNameFieldSelector(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 // TODO: in-memory cache unit tests
+
+func Test_completeListObjWithObjs(t *testing.T) {
+	testcases := map[string]struct {
+		objs       []runtime.Object
+		expectedRv string
+	}{
+		"normal resourceVersion numbers": {
+			objs: []runtime.Object{
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod1", ResourceVersion: "100"}},
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod2", ResourceVersion: "250"}},
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod3", ResourceVersion: "150"}},
+			},
+			expectedRv: "250",
+		},
+		"large uint64 resourceVersion exceeding 32-bit signed int max": {
+			objs: []runtime.Object{
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod1", ResourceVersion: "2147483647"}},
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod2", ResourceVersion: "3000000000"}},
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod3", ResourceVersion: "2500000000"}},
+			},
+			expectedRv: "3000000000",
+		},
+		"very large 64-bit unsigned int resourceVersion": {
+			objs: []runtime.Object{
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod1", ResourceVersion: "18446744073709551600"}},
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod2", ResourceVersion: "100"}},
+			},
+			expectedRv: "18446744073709551600",
+		},
+		"empty and invalid resourceVersions handled safely": {
+			objs: []runtime.Object{
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod1", ResourceVersion: ""}},
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod2", ResourceVersion: "invalid"}},
+				&v1.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "pod3", ResourceVersion: "500"}},
+			},
+			expectedRv: "500",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for name, tc := range testcases {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			listObj := &v1.PodList{}
+			err := completeListObjWithObjs(listObj, tc.objs)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+			}
+			accessor := meta.NewAccessor()
+			rv, err := accessor.ResourceVersion(listObj)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("failed to get list object resourceVersion: %v", err)
+			}
+			if rv != tc.expectedRv {
+				t.Errorf("expected list resourceVersion %q, got %q", tc.expectedRv, rv)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/yurthub/gc/gc.go b/pkg/yurthub/gc/gc.go
index a5d8a9ce373..915e5eb25e2 100644
--- a/pkg/yurthub/gc/gc.go
+++ b/pkg/yurthub/gc/gc.go
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ func (m *GCManager) gcPodsWhenRestart() {
 			Namespace: ns,
 			Name:      name,
 			Resources: "pods",
+			Version:   "v1",
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			klog.Errorf("could not get pod key for %s/%s, %v", ns, name, err)
diff --git a/pkg/yurthub/gc/gc_test.go b/pkg/yurthub/gc/gc_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e8c3e27a557
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/yurthub/gc/gc_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2025 The OpenYurt Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package gc
+
+import (
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema"
+
+	"github.com/openyurtio/openyurt/pkg/yurthub/storage"
+	diskstorage "github.com/openyurtio/openyurt/pkg/yurthub/storage/disk"
+)
+
+// TestGcPodKeyConsistency proves that the keys built in gcPodsWhenRestart
+// (when constructing currentPodKeys from apiserver response) must include
+// Version and Group to match the keys returned by ListResourceKeysOfComponent.
+//
+// Before the fix, gcPodsWhenRestart called KeyFunc without Version/Group,
+// producing "pods..core" in enhancement mode instead of "pods.v1.core",
+// causing all cached pod keys to appear deleted.
+func TestGcPodKeyConsistency(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create a disk storage in enhancement mode by ensuring no legacy
+	// resource dirs exist. A fresh temp dir produces enhancement mode.
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	store, err := diskstorage.NewDiskStorage(filepath.Join(tmpDir, "cache"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to create disk storage: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Simulate what ListResourceKeysOfComponent does:
+	// Build a key with full GVR info (like gc.go:98-102)
+	listKey, err := store.KeyFunc(storage.KeyBuildInfo{
+		Component: "kubelet",
+		Resources: "pods",
+		Group:     "",
+		Version:   "v1",
+		Namespace: "default",
+		Name:      "test-pod",
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to build list key: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Simulate the BUGGY code from gc.go:139-144 (without Version/Group)
+	buggyKey, err := store.KeyFunc(storage.KeyBuildInfo{
+		Component: "kubelet",
+		Namespace: "default",
+		Name:      "test-pod",
+		Resources: "pods",
+		// Version and Group intentionally omitted — this is the bug
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to build buggy key: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Simulate the FIXED code (with Version and Group)
+	fixedKey, err := store.KeyFunc(storage.KeyBuildInfo{
+		Component: "kubelet",
+		Namespace: "default",
+		Name:      "test-pod",
+		Resources: "pods",
+		Version:   "v1",
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to build fixed key: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	t.Logf("List key (from ListResourceKeysOfComponent): %q", listKey.Key())
+	t.Logf("Buggy key (no Version/Group):                %q", buggyKey.Key())
+	t.Logf("Fixed key (with Version):                    %q", fixedKey.Key())
+
+	// The buggy key should NOT match the list key (proving the bug exists)
+	if buggyKey.Key() == listKey.Key() {
+		t.Logf("Keys match even without Version — storage may be in legacy mode, bug is not applicable in this mode")
+	} else {
+		t.Logf("CONFIRMED: Buggy key %q != list key %q — pod GC key mismatch exists in enhancement mode", buggyKey.Key(), listKey.Key())
+	}
+
+	// The fixed key MUST match the list key
+	if fixedKey.Key() != listKey.Key() {
+		t.Errorf("Fixed key %q does not match list key %q — fix is incorrect", fixedKey.Key(), listKey.Key())
+	} else {
+		t.Logf("VERIFIED: Fixed key matches list key — fix is correct")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestGcPodKeyMapLookup simulates the actual map lookup that gcPodsWhenRestart
+// performs to determine which pods should be garbage collected.
+func TestGcPodKeyMapLookup(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	store, err := diskstorage.NewDiskStorage(filepath.Join(tmpDir, "cache"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to create disk storage: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	gvr := schema.GroupVersionResource{Group: "", Version: "v1", Resource: "pods"}
+
+	// Create a cached pod entry (simulating what ListResourceKeysOfComponent returns)
+	cachedKey, err := store.KeyFunc(storage.KeyBuildInfo{
+		Component: "kubelet",
+		Resources: gvr.Resource,
+		Group:     gvr.Group,
+		Version:   gvr.Version,
+		Namespace: "kube-system",
+		Name:      "coredns-abc123",
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to build cached key: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Build the "current pods" map the way gcPodsWhenRestart does it
+	// BUGGY: no Version/Group
+	currentPodKeysBuggy := make(map[storage.Key]struct{})
+	buggyKey, _ := store.KeyFunc(storage.KeyBuildInfo{
+		Component: "kubelet",
+		Namespace: "kube-system",
+		Name:      "coredns-abc123",
+		Resources: "pods",
+	})
+	currentPodKeysBuggy[buggyKey] = struct{}{}
+
+	// FIXED: with Version
+	currentPodKeysFixed := make(map[storage.Key]struct{})
+	fixedKey, _ := store.KeyFunc(storage.KeyBuildInfo{
+		Component: "kubelet",
+		Namespace: "kube-system",
+		Name:      "coredns-abc123",
+		Resources: "pods",
+		Version:   "v1",
+	})
+	currentPodKeysFixed[fixedKey] = struct{}{}
+
+	// Check buggy lookup — this should MISS (the bug)
+	if _, found := currentPodKeysBuggy[cachedKey]; found {
+		t.Logf("Buggy code found the cached key (storage in legacy mode)")
+	} else {
+		t.Logf("CONFIRMED BUG: Buggy code did NOT find cached key %q in currentPodKeys — pod would be incorrectly marked for GC", cachedKey.Key())
+	}
+
+	// Check fixed lookup — this MUST find the key
+	if _, found := currentPodKeysFixed[cachedKey]; !found {
+		t.Errorf("Fixed code did NOT find cached key %q in currentPodKeys — fix is broken", cachedKey.Key())
+	} else {
+		t.Logf("VERIFIED FIX: Fixed code correctly found cached key in currentPodKeys")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/yurtmanager/controller/hubleader/hubleader_controller.go b/pkg/yurtmanager/controller/hubleader/hubleader_controller.go
index c387937ac64..810c46aadce 100644
--- a/pkg/yurtmanager/controller/hubleader/hubleader_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/yurtmanager/controller/hubleader/hubleader_controller.go
@@ -176,8 +176,10 @@ func (r *ReconcileHubLeader) reconcileHubLeader(ctx context.Context, nodepool *a
 	// Set match labels
 	matchLabels := make(map[string]string)
 	if nodepool.Spec.LeaderElectionStrategy == string(appsv1beta2.ElectionStrategyMark) {
-		// Add mark strategy match labels
-		matchLabels = nodepool.Spec.LeaderNodeLabelSelector
+		// Add mark strategy match labels safely without overwriting matchLabels with a potential nil map
+		for k, v := range nodepool.Spec.LeaderNodeLabelSelector {
+			matchLabels[k] = v
+		}
 	}
 	matchLabels[projectinfo.GetNodePoolLabel()] = nodepool.GetName()
 
diff --git a/pkg/yurtmanager/controller/hubleader/hubleader_controller_test.go b/pkg/yurtmanager/controller/hubleader/hubleader_controller_test.go
index b347b967c79..db8e0ad0ffe 100644
--- a/pkg/yurtmanager/controller/hubleader/hubleader_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yurtmanager/controller/hubleader/hubleader_controller_test.go
@@ -328,6 +328,48 @@ func TestReconcile(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expectErr: false,
 		},
+		"mark election strategy with nil LeaderNodeLabelSelector": {
+			pool: &appsv1beta2.NodePool{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+					Name: "hangzhou",
+				},
+				Spec: appsv1beta2.NodePoolSpec{
+					Type: appsv1beta2.Edge,
+					Labels: map[string]string{
+						"region": "hangzhou",
+					},
+					LeaderElectionStrategy:  string(appsv1beta2.ElectionStrategyMark),
+					LeaderNodeLabelSelector: nil,
+					LeaderReplicas:          1,
+					EnableLeaderElection:    true,
+				},
+			},
+			expectedNodePool: &appsv1beta2.NodePool{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+					Name: "hangzhou",
+				},
+				Spec: appsv1beta2.NodePoolSpec{
+					Type: appsv1beta2.Edge,
+					Labels: map[string]string{
+						"region": "hangzhou",
+					},
+					LeaderElectionStrategy:  string(appsv1beta2.ElectionStrategyMark),
+					LeaderNodeLabelSelector: nil,
+					EnableLeaderElection:    true,
+					LeaderReplicas:          1,
+				},
+				Status: appsv1beta2.NodePoolStatus{
+					LeaderEndpoints: []appsv1beta2.Leader{
+						{
+							NodeName: "ready with internal IP",
+							Address:  "10.0.0.1",
+						},
+					},
+					LeaderNum: 1,
+				},
+			},
+			expectErr: false,
+		},
 		"no potential leaders in hangzhou with mark strategy": {
 			pool: &appsv1beta2.NodePool{
 				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{