diff --git a/charts/topograph/templates/rbac.yaml b/charts/topograph/templates/rbac.yaml
index e8fd00a5..d0860bd1 100644
--- a/charts/topograph/templates/rbac.yaml
+++ b/charts/topograph/templates/rbac.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 {{- if .Values.serviceAccount.create -}}
 {{- /*
 pods/exec is needed by providers that exec inside pods, and by Slinky only for
-legacy partition discovery through `scontrol show partition` in a login pod.
+legacy partition discovery through `scontrol show partition` in the controller
+pod (falling back to a login pod when present).
 Slinky skips that path when dynamic nodes are enabled or when a topology entry
 already supplies nodes, a pod selector, or the default flat topology.
 */ -}}
diff --git a/docs/engines/slinky.md b/docs/engines/slinky.md
index e6bc62a8..8515a1ea 100644
--- a/docs/engines/slinky.md
+++ b/docs/engines/slinky.md
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ When per-partition topologies are configured, each entry may declare how its nod
 |---|---|
 | `nodes` | Explicit SLURM node list. Takes precedence over `podSelector`. |
 | `podSelector` | Kubernetes `LabelSelector` matching the slurmd pods in the partition. The engine lists pods in the engine's `namespace`, filters to `Ready` pods, and reads each pod's SLURM name from the `slurm.node.name` label (falling back to `pod.spec.hostname`). |
-| _neither_ | The engine falls back to running `scontrol show partition <name>` inside a login pod (legacy behavior). |
+| _neither_ | The engine falls back to running `scontrol show partition <name>` inside the controller pod, or a login pod when no controller pod is running (legacy behavior). The controller (`app.kubernetes.io/component: controller`) is always present; login pods are optional. |
 
 `nodes` and `podSelector` are mutually exclusive on the same entry; configuring both returns a validation error at engine load time.
 
diff --git a/pkg/engines/slinky/engine.go b/pkg/engines/slinky/engine.go
index 30f18f83..04b17ae8 100644
--- a/pkg/engines/slinky/engine.go
+++ b/pkg/engines/slinky/engine.go
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@ const (
 	ConfigUpdateModeSkeletonOnly = "skeleton-only"
 
 	dynamicShowPartitionNodes = "\tNodes=NONE"
+
+	// Slinky component labels used to locate a pod that can run
+	// `scontrol show partition`. The controller is always present; login pods
+	// are optional.
+	slurmComponentLabelKey   = "app.kubernetes.io/component"
+	slurmComponentController = "controller"
+	slurmComponentLogin      = "login"
 )
 
 type SlinkyEngine struct {
@@ -443,27 +450,33 @@ func (eng *SlinkyEngine) getPartitionNodes(ctx context.Context, partition string
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("getPartitionNodes expects a string parameter")
 	}
 
-	labels := map[string]string{"app.kubernetes.io/component": "login"}
-	pods, err := k8s.GetPodsByLabels(ctx, eng.client, namespace, labels)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-
-	for _, pod := range pods.Items {
-		if pod.Status.Phase != corev1.PodRunning {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		cmd := []string{"scontrol", "show", "partition", partition}
-		buf, err := k8s.ExecInPod(ctx, eng.client, eng.config, pod.Name, pod.Namespace, cmd)
+	// A Slinky cluster always runs a controller (slurmctld) but login pods are
+	// optional, so prefer the controller for `scontrol show partition` and fall
+	// back to a login pod when one is present.
+	for _, component := range []string{slurmComponentController, slurmComponentLogin} {
+		labels := map[string]string{slurmComponentLabelKey: component}
+		pods, err := k8s.GetPodsByLabels(ctx, eng.client, namespace, labels)
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", err
 		}
 
-		return buf.String(), nil
+		for _, pod := range pods.Items {
+			if pod.Status.Phase != corev1.PodRunning {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			cmd := []string{"scontrol", "show", "partition", partition}
+			buf, err := k8s.ExecInPod(ctx, eng.client, eng.config, pod.Name, pod.Namespace, cmd)
+			if err != nil {
+				return "", err
+			}
+
+			return buf.String(), nil
+		}
 	}
 
-	return "", fmt.Errorf("no running pods with labels %v", labels)
+	return "", fmt.Errorf("no running %s or %s pods found for partition discovery in namespace %q",
+		slurmComponentController, slurmComponentLogin, namespace)
 }
 
 func (eng *SlinkyEngine) performReconciliation(ctx context.Context, nt *translate.NetworkTopology, topologies []*translate.TopologyUnit) *httperr.Error {
diff --git a/pkg/engines/slinky/engine_test.go b/pkg/engines/slinky/engine_test.go
index 9d56ec54..929093d4 100644
--- a/pkg/engines/slinky/engine_test.go
+++ b/pkg/engines/slinky/engine_test.go
@@ -502,6 +502,76 @@ func slurmTopologiesForDynamicTest(plugins []string) map[string]*Topology {
 	return out
 }
 
+func TestGetPartitionNodes(t *testing.T) {
+	const namespace = "slurm"
+
+	// A controller pod that is not running, so getPartitionNodes never reaches
+	// ExecInPod and exercises the no-running-pods path deterministically.
+	pendingControllerClient := func() *fake.Clientset {
+		return fake.NewSimpleClientset(&corev1.Pod{
+			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+				Name:      "slurm-controller-0",
+				Namespace: namespace,
+				Labels:    map[string]string{slurmComponentLabelKey: slurmComponentController},
+			},
+			Status: corev1.PodStatus{Phase: corev1.PodPending},
+		})
+	}
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		name            string
+		useDynamicNodes bool
+		client          *fake.Clientset
+		params          []any
+		want            string
+		errMsg          string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:            "dynamic nodes short-circuits without listing pods",
+			useDynamicNodes: true,
+			client:          fake.NewSimpleClientset(),
+			params:          []any{namespace},
+			want:            dynamicShowPartitionNodes,
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "wrong parameter count",
+			client: fake.NewSimpleClientset(),
+			params: []any{namespace, "extra"},
+			errMsg: "expects a namespace as a parameter",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "non-string parameter",
+			client: fake.NewSimpleClientset(),
+			params: []any{42},
+			errMsg: "expects a string parameter",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "no running controller or login pods",
+			client: pendingControllerClient(),
+			params: []any{namespace},
+			errMsg: "no running controller or login pods found for partition discovery",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			eng := &SlinkyEngine{
+				client: tc.client,
+				params: &Params{Namespace: namespace, UseDynamicNodes: tc.useDynamicNodes},
+			}
+
+			got, err := eng.getPartitionNodes(context.Background(), "gpu", tc.params)
+			if tc.errMsg != "" {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				require.Contains(t, err.Error(), tc.errMsg)
+				return
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.Equal(t, tc.want, got)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestGenerateDynamicNodesOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	slinkyPodSel := metav1.LabelSelector{MatchLabels: map[string]string{"app": "slinky"}}