diff --git a/npc/controller.go b/npc/controller.go
index 27dd1a15..eef4af7f 100644
--- a/npc/controller.go
+++ b/npc/controller.go
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 package npc
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"sync"
 
-	goiptables "github.com/coreos/go-iptables/iptables"
-
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	coreapi "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	extnapi "k8s.io/api/extensions/v1beta1"
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@ type controller struct {
 
 	nss               map[string]*ns // ns name -> ns struct
 	nsSelectors       *selectorSet   // selector string -> nsSelector
-	defaultEgressDrop bool
+	defaultEgressDrop bool           // flag to track if base iptable rule to drop egress traffic is added or not
 }
 
 func New(nodeName string, ipt iptables.Interface, ips ipset.Interface) NetworkPolicyController {
@@ -126,15 +125,17 @@ func (npc *controller) AddNetworkPolicy(obj interface{}) error {
 
 	// lazily add default rule to drop egress traffic only when network policies are applied
 	if !npc.defaultEgressDrop {
-		npc.defaultEgressDrop = true
-		ipt, err := goiptables.New()
+		egressNetworkPolicy, err := isEgressNetworkPolicy(obj)
 		if err != nil {
-			common.Log.Fatalf("Failed to create iptables handler %v", err.Error())
+			return err
 		}
-		if err := ipt.Append(TableFilter, EgressChain,
-			"-m", "mark", "!", "--mark", EgressMark, "-j", "DROP"); err != nil {
-			common.Log.Errorf("Failed to add iptable rule to drop egress traffic from the pods by default due to %s", err.Error())
-			npc.defaultEgressDrop = false
+		if egressNetworkPolicy {
+			npc.defaultEgressDrop = true
+			if err := npc.ipt.Append(TableFilter, EgressChain,
+				"-m", "mark", "!", "--mark", EgressMark, "-j", "DROP"); err != nil {
+				npc.defaultEgressDrop = false
+				return fmt.Errorf("Failed to add iptable rule to drop egress traffic from the pods by default due to %s", err.Error())
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -218,3 +219,20 @@ func nsName(obj interface{}) (string, error) {
 
 	return "", errInvalidNetworkPolicyObjType
 }
+
+func isEgressNetworkPolicy(obj interface{}) (bool, error) {
+	if policy, ok := obj.(*networkingv1.NetworkPolicy); ok {
+		if len(policy.Spec.PolicyTypes) > 0 {
+			for _, policyType := range policy.Spec.PolicyTypes {
+				if policyType == networkingv1.PolicyTypeEgress {
+					return true, nil
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		if policy.Spec.Egress != nil {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	return false, errInvalidNetworkPolicyObjType
+}