diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/BUILD b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/BUILD
index b4c51d476eb..04cd70a8119 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/BUILD
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ go_library(
         "constants.go",
         "context.go",
         "doc.go",
+        "errors.go",
         "gce_projects.go",
         "gen.go",
         "op.go",
@@ -32,6 +33,8 @@ go_test(
     srcs = [
         "gen_test.go",
         "mock_test.go",
+        "ratelimit_test.go",
+        "service_test.go",
         "utils_test.go",
     ],
     embed = [":go_default_library"],
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/errors.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/errors.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1896a6d9e02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/errors.go
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package cloud
+
+import "fmt"
+
+// OperationPollingError occurs when the GCE Operation cannot be retrieved for a prolonged period.
+type OperationPollingError struct {
+	LastPollError error
+}
+
+// Error returns a string representation including the last poll error encountered.
+func (e *OperationPollingError) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("GCE operation polling error: %v", e.LastPollError)
+}
+
+// GCEOperationError occurs when the GCE Operation finishes with an error.
+type GCEOperationError struct {
+	// HTTPStatusCode is the HTTP status code of the final error.
+	// For example, a failed operation may have 400 - BadRequest.
+	HTTPStatusCode int
+	// Code is GCE's code of what went wrong.
+	// For example, RESOURCE_IN_USE_BY_ANOTHER_RESOURCE
+	Code string
+	// Message is a human readable message.
+	// For example, "The network resource 'xxx' is already being used by 'xxx'"
+	Message string
+}
+
+// Error returns a string representation including the HTTP Status code, GCE's error code
+// and a human readable message.
+func (e *GCEOperationError) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("GCE %v - %v: %v", e.HTTPStatusCode, e.Code, e.Message)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/op.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/op.go
index 1bd2e0c484b..358598776fc 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/op.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/op.go
@@ -29,10 +29,17 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/meta"
 )
 
+const (
+	operationStatusDone = "DONE"
+)
+
 // operation is a GCE operation that can be watied on.
 type operation interface {
 	// isDone queries GCE for the done status. This call can block.
 	isDone(ctx context.Context) (bool, error)
+	// error returns the resulting error of the operation. This may be nil if the operations
+	// was successful.
+	error() error
 	// rateLimitKey returns the rate limit key to use for the given operation.
 	// This rate limit will govern how fast the server will be polled for
 	// operation completion status.
@@ -43,6 +50,7 @@ type gaOperation struct {
 	s         *Service
 	projectID string
 	key       *meta.Key
+	err       error
 }
 
 func (o *gaOperation) String() string {
@@ -71,7 +79,15 @@ func (o *gaOperation) isDone(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
-	return op != nil && op.Status == "DONE", nil
+	if op == nil || op.Status != operationStatusDone {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+
+	if op.Error != nil && len(op.Error.Errors) > 0 && op.Error.Errors[0] != nil {
+		e := op.Error.Errors[0]
+		o.err = &GCEOperationError{HTTPStatusCode: op.HTTPStatusCode, Code: e.Code, Message: e.Message}
+	}
+	return true, nil
 }
 
 func (o *gaOperation) rateLimitKey() *RateLimitKey {
@@ -83,10 +99,15 @@ func (o *gaOperation) rateLimitKey() *RateLimitKey {
 	}
 }
 
+func (o *gaOperation) error() error {
+	return o.err
+}
+
 type alphaOperation struct {
 	s         *Service
 	projectID string
 	key       *meta.Key
+	err       error
 }
 
 func (o *alphaOperation) String() string {
@@ -115,7 +136,15 @@ func (o *alphaOperation) isDone(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
-	return op != nil && op.Status == "DONE", nil
+	if op == nil || op.Status != operationStatusDone {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+
+	if op.Error != nil && len(op.Error.Errors) > 0 && op.Error.Errors[0] != nil {
+		e := op.Error.Errors[0]
+		o.err = &GCEOperationError{HTTPStatusCode: op.HTTPStatusCode, Code: e.Code, Message: e.Message}
+	}
+	return true, nil
 }
 
 func (o *alphaOperation) rateLimitKey() *RateLimitKey {
@@ -127,10 +156,15 @@ func (o *alphaOperation) rateLimitKey() *RateLimitKey {
 	}
 }
 
+func (o *alphaOperation) error() error {
+	return o.err
+}
+
 type betaOperation struct {
 	s         *Service
 	projectID string
 	key       *meta.Key
+	err       error
 }
 
 func (o *betaOperation) String() string {
@@ -159,7 +193,15 @@ func (o *betaOperation) isDone(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
-	return op != nil && op.Status == "DONE", nil
+	if op == nil || op.Status != operationStatusDone {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+
+	if op.Error != nil && len(op.Error.Errors) > 0 && op.Error.Errors[0] != nil {
+		e := op.Error.Errors[0]
+		o.err = &GCEOperationError{HTTPStatusCode: op.HTTPStatusCode, Code: e.Code, Message: e.Message}
+	}
+	return true, nil
 }
 
 func (o *betaOperation) rateLimitKey() *RateLimitKey {
@@ -170,3 +212,7 @@ func (o *betaOperation) rateLimitKey() *RateLimitKey {
 		Version:   meta.VersionBeta,
 	}
 }
+
+func (o *betaOperation) error() error {
+	return o.err
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/ratelimit.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/ratelimit.go
index e38b8f7de3c..ca1278a008d 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/ratelimit.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/ratelimit.go
@@ -47,22 +47,60 @@ type RateLimiter interface {
 	Accept(ctx context.Context, key *RateLimitKey) error
 }
 
+// acceptor is an object which blocks within Accept until a call is allowed to run.
+// Accept is a behavior of the flowcontrol.RateLimiter interface.
+type acceptor interface {
+	// Accept blocks until a call is allowed to run.
+	Accept()
+}
+
+// AcceptRateLimiter wraps an Acceptor with RateLimiter parameters.
+type AcceptRateLimiter struct {
+	// Acceptor is the underlying rate limiter.
+	Acceptor acceptor
+}
+
+// Accept wraps an Acceptor and blocks on Accept or context.Done(). Key is ignored.
+func (rl *AcceptRateLimiter) Accept(ctx context.Context, key *RateLimitKey) error {
+	ch := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		rl.Acceptor.Accept()
+		close(ch)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-ch:
+		break
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // NopRateLimiter is a rate limiter that performs no rate limiting.
 type NopRateLimiter struct {
 }
 
-// Accept the operation to be rate limited.
+// Accept everything immediately.
 func (*NopRateLimiter) Accept(ctx context.Context, key *RateLimitKey) error {
-	// Rate limit polling of the Operation status to avoid hammering GCE
-	// for the status of an operation.
-	const pollTime = time.Duration(1) * time.Second
-	if key.Operation == "Get" && key.Service == "Operations" {
-		select {
-		case <-time.NewTimer(pollTime).C:
-			break
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return ctx.Err()
-		}
-	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+// MinimumRateLimiter wraps a RateLimiter and will only call its Accept until the minimum
+// duration has been met or the context is cancelled.
+type MinimumRateLimiter struct {
+	// RateLimiter is the underlying ratelimiter which is called after the mininum time is reacehd.
+	RateLimiter RateLimiter
+	// Minimum is the minimum wait time before the underlying ratelimiter is called.
+	Minimum time.Duration
+}
+
+// Accept blocks on the minimum duration and context. Once the minimum duration is met,
+// the func is blocked on the underlying ratelimiter.
+func (m *MinimumRateLimiter) Accept(ctx context.Context, key *RateLimitKey) error {
+	select {
+	case <-time.After(m.Minimum):
+		return m.RateLimiter.Accept(ctx, key)
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/ratelimit_test.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/ratelimit_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4bb4512e133
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/ratelimit_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package cloud
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+type FakeAcceptor struct{ accept func() }
+
+func (f *FakeAcceptor) Accept() {
+	f.accept()
+}
+
+func TestAcceptRateLimiter(t *testing.T) {
+	fa := &FakeAcceptor{accept: func() {}}
+	arl := &AcceptRateLimiter{fa}
+	err := arl.Accept(context.Background(), nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("AcceptRateLimiter.Accept() = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+
+	// Use context that has been cancelled and expect a context error returned.
+	ctxCancelled, cancelled := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cancelled()
+	// Verify context is cancelled by now.
+	<-ctxCancelled.Done()
+
+	fa.accept = func() { time.Sleep(1 * time.Second) }
+	err = arl.Accept(ctxCancelled, nil)
+	if err != ctxCancelled.Err() {
+		t.Errorf("AcceptRateLimiter.Accept() = %v, want %v", err, ctxCancelled.Err())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMinimumRateLimiter(t *testing.T) {
+	fa := &FakeAcceptor{accept: func() {}}
+	arl := &AcceptRateLimiter{fa}
+	var called bool
+	fa.accept = func() { called = true }
+	m := &MinimumRateLimiter{RateLimiter: arl, Minimum: 10 * time.Millisecond}
+
+	err := m.Accept(context.Background(), nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("MinimumRateLimiter.Accept = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	if !called {
+		t.Errorf("`called` = false, want true")
+	}
+
+	// Use context that has been cancelled and expect a context error returned.
+	ctxCancelled, cancelled := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cancelled()
+	// Verify context is cancelled by now.
+	<-ctxCancelled.Done()
+	called = false
+	err = m.Accept(ctxCancelled, nil)
+	if err != ctxCancelled.Err() {
+		t.Errorf("AcceptRateLimiter.Accept() = %v, want %v", err, ctxCancelled.Err())
+	}
+	if called {
+		t.Errorf("`called` = true, want false")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/service.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/service.go
index 99ed7d226b7..2f332dfff85 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/service.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/service.go
@@ -45,19 +45,19 @@ func (s *Service) wrapOperation(anyOp interface{}) (operation, error) {
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		return &gaOperation{s, r.ProjectID, r.Key}, nil
+		return &gaOperation{s: s, projectID: r.ProjectID, key: r.Key}, nil
 	case *alpha.Operation:
 		r, err := ParseResourceURL(o.SelfLink)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		return &alphaOperation{s, r.ProjectID, r.Key}, nil
+		return &alphaOperation{s: s, projectID: r.ProjectID, key: r.Key}, nil
 	case *beta.Operation:
 		r, err := ParseResourceURL(o.SelfLink)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		return &betaOperation{s, r.ProjectID, r.Key}, nil
+		return &betaOperation{s: s, projectID: r.ProjectID, key: r.Key}, nil
 	default:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid type %T", anyOp)
 	}
@@ -72,14 +72,39 @@ func (s *Service) WaitForCompletion(ctx context.Context, genericOp interface{})
 		glog.Errorf("wrapOperation(%+v) error: %v", genericOp, err)
 		return err
 	}
-	for done, err := op.isDone(ctx); !done; done, err = op.isDone(ctx) {
-		if err != nil {
-			glog.V(4).Infof("op.isDone(%v) error; op = %v, err = %v", ctx, op, err)
-			return err
-		}
-		glog.V(5).Infof("op.isDone(%v) waiting; op = %v", ctx, op)
-		s.RateLimiter.Accept(ctx, op.rateLimitKey())
-	}
-	glog.V(5).Infof("op.isDone(%v) complete; op = %v", ctx, op)
-	return nil
+
+	return s.pollOperation(ctx, op)
+}
+
+// pollOperation calls operations.isDone until the function comes back true or context is Done.
+// If an error occurs retrieving the operation, the loop will continue until the context is done.
+// This is to prevent a transient error from bubbling up to controller-level logic.
+func (s *Service) pollOperation(ctx context.Context, op operation) error {
+	var pollCount int
+	for {
+		// Check if context has been cancelled. Note that ctx.Done() must be checked before
+		// returning ctx.Err().
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			glog.V(5).Infof("op.pollOperation(%v, %v) not completed, poll count = %d, ctx.Err = %v", ctx, op, pollCount, ctx.Err())
+			return ctx.Err()
+		default:
+			// ctx is not canceled, continue immediately
+		}
+
+		pollCount++
+		glog.V(5).Infof("op.isDone(%v) waiting; op = %v, poll count = %d", ctx, op, pollCount)
+		s.RateLimiter.Accept(ctx, op.rateLimitKey())
+		done, err := op.isDone(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			glog.V(5).Infof("op.isDone(%v) error; op = %v, poll count = %d, err = %v, retrying", ctx, op, pollCount, err)
+		}
+
+		if done {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	glog.V(5).Infof("op.isDone(%v) complete; op = %v, poll count = %d, op.err = %v", ctx, op, pollCount, op.error())
+	return op.error()
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/service_test.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/service_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fc6fbb51d89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/cloud/service_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package cloud
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestPollOperation(t *testing.T) {
+	const totalAttempts = 10
+	var attempts int
+	fo := &fakeOperation{isDoneFunc: func(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
+		attempts++
+		if attempts < totalAttempts {
+			return false, nil
+		}
+		return true, nil
+	}}
+	s := Service{RateLimiter: &NopRateLimiter{}}
+	// Check that pollOperation will retry the operation multiple times.
+	err := s.pollOperation(context.Background(), fo)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("pollOperation() = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	if attempts != totalAttempts {
+		t.Errorf("`attempts` = %d, want %d", attempts, totalAttempts)
+	}
+
+	// Check that the operation's error is returned.
+	fo.err = fmt.Errorf("test operation failed")
+	err = s.pollOperation(context.Background(), fo)
+	if err != fo.err {
+		t.Errorf("pollOperation() = %v, want %v", err, fo.err)
+	}
+	fo.err = nil
+
+	fo.isDoneFunc = func(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	// Use context that has been cancelled and expect a context error returned.
+	ctxCancelled, cancelled := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cancelled()
+	// Verify context is cancelled by now.
+	<-ctxCancelled.Done()
+	// Check that pollOperation returns because the context is cancelled.
+	err = s.pollOperation(ctxCancelled, fo)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Errorf("pollOperation() = nil, want: %v", ctxCancelled.Err())
+	}
+}
+
+type fakeOperation struct {
+	isDoneFunc func(ctx context.Context) (bool, error)
+	err        error
+	rateKey    *RateLimitKey
+}
+
+func (f *fakeOperation) isDone(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
+	return f.isDoneFunc(ctx)
+}
+
+func (f *fakeOperation) error() error {
+	return f.err
+}
+
+func (f *fakeOperation) rateLimitKey() *RateLimitKey {
+	return f.rateKey
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/gce.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/gce.go
index 383744f23d4..c2defec3896 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/gce.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/gce.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ const (
 	// AffinityTypeClientIPProto - affinity based on Client IP and port.
 	gceAffinityTypeClientIPProto = "CLIENT_IP_PROTO"
 
-	operationPollInterval = 3 * time.Second
+	operationPollInterval = time.Second
 	// Creating Route in very large clusters, may take more than half an hour.
 	operationPollTimeoutDuration = time.Hour
 
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ func CreateGCECloud(config *CloudConfig) (*GCECloud, error) {
 		glog.Infof("managing multiple zones: %v", config.ManagedZones)
 	}
 
-	operationPollRateLimiter := flowcontrol.NewTokenBucketRateLimiter(10, 100) // 10 qps, 100 bucket size.
+	operationPollRateLimiter := flowcontrol.NewTokenBucketRateLimiter(5, 5) // 5 qps, 5 burst.
 
 	gce := &GCECloud{
 		service:                  service,
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/support.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/support.go
index 37dc75b0b0a..7861e08acbc 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/support.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/support.go
@@ -50,17 +50,15 @@ type gceRateLimiter struct {
 // operations.
 func (l *gceRateLimiter) Accept(ctx context.Context, key *cloud.RateLimitKey) error {
 	if key.Operation == "Get" && key.Service == "Operations" {
-		ch := make(chan struct{})
-		go func() {
-			l.gce.operationPollRateLimiter.Accept()
-			close(ch)
-		}()
-		select {
-		case <-ch:
-			break
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return ctx.Err()
+		// Wait a minimum amount of time regardless of rate limiter.
+		rl := &cloud.MinimumRateLimiter{
+			// Convert flowcontrol.RateLimiter into cloud.RateLimiter
+			RateLimiter: &cloud.AcceptRateLimiter{
+				Acceptor: l.gce.operationPollRateLimiter,
+			},
+			Minimum: operationPollInterval,
 		}
+		return rl.Accept(ctx, key)
 	}
 	return nil
 }