diff --git a/src/aks-preview/HISTORY.rst b/src/aks-preview/HISTORY.rst
index be9d2d190af..d9b98ef628f 100644
--- a/src/aks-preview/HISTORY.rst
+++ b/src/aks-preview/HISTORY.rst
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ To release a new version, please select a new version number (usually plus 1 to
 Pending
 +++++++
 
+* Fix `az aks update` command failing on updating the ssh key value if cluster was created without ssh key, see issue `\#5559 <https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli-extensions/issues/5559>`_.
 * Mark "--enable-pod-security-policy" deprecated
 
 0.5.115
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ Pending
 +++++++
 
 * Fix workload identity update error after oidc issure GA in azure-cli.
-* Fix `az aks update` command failing on SP-based cluster blocked by validation in AzureMonitorMetrics Addon, see issue `\#5336 <https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli-extensions/issues/5488>`_.
+* Fix `az aks update` command failing on SP-based cluster blocked by validation in AzureMonitorMetrics Addon, see issue `\#5488 <https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli-extensions/issues/5488>`_.
 * Fix `az aks update` command failing on changes not related to outbound type conversion, see issue `\#24430 https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli/issues/24430>`_.
 
 0.5.112
diff --git a/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/managed_cluster_decorator.py b/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/managed_cluster_decorator.py
index b3a126b3c74..1eb2f83004c 100644
--- a/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/managed_cluster_decorator.py
+++ b/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/managed_cluster_decorator.py
@@ -3176,6 +3176,8 @@ def update_linux_profile(self, mc: ManagedCluster) -> ManagedCluster:
         ssh_key_value = self.context.get_ssh_key_value_for_update()
 
         if ssh_key_value:
+            if mc.linux_profile is None:
+                raise InvalidArgumentValueError("Updating the cluster with no ssh key set at creation is not supported")
             mc.linux_profile.ssh = self.models.ContainerServiceSshConfiguration(
                 public_keys=[
                     self.models.ContainerServiceSshPublicKey(
@@ -3183,7 +3185,6 @@ def update_linux_profile(self, mc: ManagedCluster) -> ManagedCluster:
                     )
                 ]
             )
-
         return mc
 
     def update_mc_profile_preview(self) -> ManagedCluster:
diff --git a/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/tests/latest/test_managed_cluster_decorator.py b/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/tests/latest/test_managed_cluster_decorator.py
index 152a1b59684..b3e4f17b4e0 100644
--- a/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/tests/latest/test_managed_cluster_decorator.py
+++ b/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/tests/latest/test_managed_cluster_decorator.py
@@ -5804,6 +5804,21 @@ def test_update_azure_monitor_profile(self):
         )
         self.assertEqual(dec_mc_1, ground_truth_mc_1)
 
+    def test_update_linux_profile(self):
+        dec_1 = AKSPreviewManagedClusterUpdateDecorator(
+            self.cmd,
+            self.client,
+            {"ssh_key_value": "test_key"},
+            CUSTOM_MGMT_AKS_PREVIEW,
+        )
+        mc_1 = self.models.ManagedCluster(
+            location="test_location",
+        )
+        dec_1.context.attach_mc(mc_1)
+        # fail on cluster has no linux profile
+        with self.assertRaises(InvalidArgumentValueError):
+            dec_mc_1 = dec_1.update_linux_profile(mc_1)
+
     def test_update_mc_profile_preview(self):
         import inspect