diff --git a/node_external_ip_controller_async.py b/node_external_ip_controller_async.py
index adcbcbf..41f8d50 100644
--- a/node_external_ip_controller_async.py
+++ b/node_external_ip_controller_async.py
@@ -35,9 +35,7 @@ async def update_service_annotation(v1, service, external_ipset):
         service_obj = await v1.read_namespaced_service(service_name, namespace)
 
         current_annotation = service_obj.metadata.annotations.get(ANNOTATION_KEY, "")
-        annotated_ips = (
-            set(current_annotation.split(",")) if current_annotation else set()
-        )
+        annotated_ipset = set(current_annotation.split(","))
         zlan_gateway_ip = service_obj.metadata.labels.get(ZLAN_GATEWAY_IP_KEY)
         logger.debug(f"Zlan Gateway IP: {zlan_gateway_ip}")
 
@@ -48,9 +46,9 @@ async def update_service_annotation(v1, service, external_ipset):
             logger.debug(
                 f"Invalid Zlan Gateway IP: {zlan_gateway_ip}, excluding from target annotation"
             )
-        if annotated_ips != external_ipset:
-            logger.debug(f"Current annotation: {current_annotation}")
-            logger.debug(f"Target annotation: {target_annotation}")
+        if annotated_ipset != external_ipset:
+            logger.debug(f"Current annotation: {current_annotation}: {annotated_ipset}")
+            logger.debug(f"Target annotation: {target_annotation}: {external_ipset}")
             body = {"metadata": {"annotations": {ANNOTATION_KEY: target_annotation}}}
             logger.debug(f"Patching service {service_name} with body: {body}")
             await v1.patch_namespaced_service(service_name, namespace, body)
@@ -101,7 +99,7 @@ async def watch_nodes(v1, external_ips_update_queue):
                 # remove old ip lists before populating
                 while not external_ips_update_queue.empty():
                     _previous_external_ips = await external_ips_update_queue.get()
-                await external_ips_update_queue.put(external_node_ipset)
+                await external_ips_update_queue.put(set(external_node_ips))
                 logger.debug(f"Added external IPs to update queue: {external_node_ips}")
 
         except client.exceptions.ApiException as e: