diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
index 9d78c2c9b08..76ec6217520 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
@@ -2019,8 +2019,9 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) dispatchWork(pod *v1.Pod, syncType kubetypes.SyncPodType, mir
 	}
 
 	// optimization: avoid invoking the pod worker if no further changes are possible to the pod definition
-	if podWorkerTerminal {
-		klog.V(4).Infof("Pod %q has completed, ignoring remaining sync work: %s", format.Pod(pod), syncType)
+	// (i.e. the pod has completed and its containers have been terminated)
+	if podWorkerTerminal && containersTerminal {
+		klog.V(4).InfoS("Pod has completed and its containers have been terminated, ignoring remaining sync work", "pod", klog.KObj(pod), "syncType", syncType)
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
index 5fe77b9c75c..aaf74b400d0 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
@@ -473,6 +473,133 @@ func TestSyncPodsDeletesWhenSourcesAreReadyPerQOS(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.True(t, destroyCount >= 1, "Expect 1 or more destroys")
 }
 
+func TestDispatchWorkOfCompletedPod(t *testing.T) {
+	testKubelet := newTestKubelet(t, false /* controllerAttachDetachEnabled */)
+	defer testKubelet.Cleanup()
+	kubelet := testKubelet.kubelet
+	kubelet.podWorkers = &fakePodWorkers{
+		syncPodFn: func(options syncPodOptions) error {
+			return fmt.Errorf("should ignore completed pod %q", options.pod.Name)
+		},
+		cache: kubelet.podCache,
+		t:     t,
+	}
+	now := metav1.NewTime(time.Now())
+	pods := []*v1.Pod{
+		{
+			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+				UID:         "1",
+				Name:        "completed-pod1",
+				Namespace:   "ns",
+				Annotations: make(map[string]string),
+			},
+			Status: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase: v1.PodFailed,
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					{
+						State: v1.ContainerState{
+							Terminated: &v1.ContainerStateTerminated{},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+				UID:         "2",
+				Name:        "completed-pod2",
+				Namespace:   "ns",
+				Annotations: make(map[string]string),
+			},
+			Status: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase: v1.PodSucceeded,
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					{
+						State: v1.ContainerState{
+							Terminated: &v1.ContainerStateTerminated{},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+				UID:               "3",
+				Name:              "completed-pod3",
+				Namespace:         "ns",
+				Annotations:       make(map[string]string),
+				DeletionTimestamp: &now,
+			},
+			Status: v1.PodStatus{
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					{
+						State: v1.ContainerState{
+							Terminated: &v1.ContainerStateTerminated{},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, pod := range pods {
+		kubelet.dispatchWork(pod, kubetypes.SyncPodSync, nil, time.Now())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDispatchWorkOfActivePod(t *testing.T) {
+	testKubelet := newTestKubelet(t, false /* controllerAttachDetachEnabled */)
+	defer testKubelet.Cleanup()
+	kubelet := testKubelet.kubelet
+	var got bool
+	kubelet.podWorkers = &fakePodWorkers{
+		syncPodFn: func(options syncPodOptions) error {
+			got = true
+			return nil
+		},
+		cache: kubelet.podCache,
+		t:     t,
+	}
+	pods := []*v1.Pod{
+		{
+			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+				UID:         "1",
+				Name:        "active-pod1",
+				Namespace:   "ns",
+				Annotations: make(map[string]string),
+			},
+			Status: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase: v1.PodRunning,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+				UID:         "2",
+				Name:        "active-pod2",
+				Namespace:   "ns",
+				Annotations: make(map[string]string),
+			},
+			Status: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase: v1.PodFailed,
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					{
+						State: v1.ContainerState{
+							Running: &v1.ContainerStateRunning{},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, pod := range pods {
+		kubelet.dispatchWork(pod, kubetypes.SyncPodSync, nil, time.Now())
+		if !got {
+			t.Errorf("Should not skip active pod %q", pod.Name)
+		}
+		got = false
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSyncPodsDeletesWhenSourcesAreReady(t *testing.T) {
 	ready := false