diff --git a/fe/fe-core/src/main/java/org/apache/doris/persist/DropPartitionInfo.java b/fe/fe-core/src/main/java/org/apache/doris/persist/DropPartitionInfo.java
index b5b56684f1b722..0138549405e583 100644
--- a/fe/fe-core/src/main/java/org/apache/doris/persist/DropPartitionInfo.java
+++ b/fe/fe-core/src/main/java/org/apache/doris/persist/DropPartitionInfo.java
@@ -82,7 +82,9 @@ public Long getTableId() {
     }
 
     public Long getPartitionId() {
-        return partitionId;
+        // the field partition ID was added in PR: apache/doris#37196, the old version doesn't
+        // contain this field so it will be null.
+        return partitionId == null ? -1 : partitionId;
     }
 
     public String getPartitionName() {