diff --git a/tools/cache/reflector.go b/tools/cache/reflector.go
index 4967f98d..b4865a64 100644
--- a/tools/cache/reflector.go
+++ b/tools/cache/reflector.go
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func NewNamedReflector(name string, lw ListerWatcher, expectedType interface{},
 	r := &Reflector{
 		name: name,
 		// we need this to be unique per process (some names are still the same)but obvious who it belongs to
-		metrics:       newReflectorMetrics(makeValidPromethusMetricName(fmt.Sprintf("reflector_"+name+"_%d", reflectorSuffix))),
+		metrics:       newReflectorMetrics(makeValidPromethusMetricLabel(fmt.Sprintf("reflector_"+name+"_%d", reflectorSuffix))),
 		listerWatcher: lw,
 		store:         store,
 		expectedType:  reflect.TypeOf(expectedType),
@@ -120,9 +120,9 @@ func NewNamedReflector(name string, lw ListerWatcher, expectedType interface{},
 	return r
 }
 
-func makeValidPromethusMetricName(in string) string {
+func makeValidPromethusMetricLabel(in string) string {
 	// this isn't perfect, but it removes our common characters
-	return strings.NewReplacer("/", "_", ".", "_", "-", "_").Replace(in)
+	return strings.NewReplacer("/", "_", ".", "_", "-", "_", ":", "_").Replace(in)
 }
 
 // internalPackages are packages that ignored when creating a default reflector name. These packages are in the common