diff --git a/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go b/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go
index 226c9b8d3ec..d3bc26473a0 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go
@@ -163,11 +163,6 @@ func (m *PodControllerRefManager) ClaimPods(pods []*v1.Pod) ([]*v1.Pod, error) {
 	}
 
 	for _, pod := range pods {
-		if !IsPodActive(pod) {
-			glog.V(4).Infof("Ignoring inactive pod %v/%v in state %v, deletion time %v",
-				pod.Namespace, pod.Name, pod.Status.Phase, pod.DeletionTimestamp)
-			continue
-		}
 		ok, err := m.claimObject(pod, adopt, release)
 		if err != nil {
 			errlist = append(errlist, err)
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go
index 665f08578ba..83c67819bf9 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go
@@ -541,18 +541,24 @@ func (rsc *ReplicaSetController) syncReplicaSet(key string) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// NOTE: filteredPods are pointing to objects from cache - if you need to
-	// modify them, you need to copy it first.
-	// TODO: Do the List and Filter in a single pass, or use an index.
-	var filteredPods []*v1.Pod
 	// list all pods to include the pods that don't match the rs`s selector
 	// anymore but has the stale controller ref.
+	// TODO: Do the List and Filter in a single pass, or use an index.
 	pods, err := rsc.podLister.Pods(rs.Namespace).List(labels.Everything())
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	// Ignore inactive pods.
+	var filteredPods []*v1.Pod
+	for _, pod := range pods {
+		if controller.IsPodActive(pod) {
+			filteredPods = append(filteredPods, pod)
+		}
+	}
 	cm := controller.NewPodControllerRefManager(rsc.podControl, rs, selector, controllerKind)
-	filteredPods, err = cm.ClaimPods(pods)
+	// NOTE: filteredPods are pointing to objects from cache - if you need to
+	// modify them, you need to copy it first.
+	filteredPods, err = cm.ClaimPods(filteredPods)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
index df34de1c63f..9a6f8cff16e 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
@@ -559,17 +559,23 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) syncReplicationController(key string) error {
 	rcNeedsSync := rm.expectations.SatisfiedExpectations(key)
 	trace.Step("Expectations restored")
 
-	// NOTE: filteredPods are pointing to objects from cache - if you need to
-	// modify them, you need to copy it first.
-	// TODO: Do the List and Filter in a single pass, or use an index.
-	var filteredPods []*v1.Pod
 	// list all pods to include the pods that don't match the rc's selector
 	// anymore but has the stale controller ref.
+	// TODO: Do the List and Filter in a single pass, or use an index.
 	pods, err := rm.podLister.Pods(rc.Namespace).List(labels.Everything())
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	// Ignore inactive pods.
+	var filteredPods []*v1.Pod
+	for _, pod := range pods {
+		if controller.IsPodActive(pod) {
+			filteredPods = append(filteredPods, pod)
+		}
+	}
 	cm := controller.NewPodControllerRefManager(rm.podControl, rc, labels.Set(rc.Spec.Selector).AsSelectorPreValidated(), controllerKind)
+	// NOTE: filteredPods are pointing to objects from cache - if you need to
+	// modify them, you need to copy it first.
 	filteredPods, err = cm.ClaimPods(pods)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err