diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/component-base/metrics/prometheus/controllers/metrics.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/component-base/metrics/prometheus/controllers/metrics.go
index e3930bf7497..015482e4218 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/component-base/metrics/prometheus/controllers/metrics.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/component-base/metrics/prometheus/controllers/metrics.go
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ type ControllerMetrics struct {
 func newControllerMetrics() *ControllerMetrics {
 	controllerInstanceCount := k8smetrics.NewGaugeVec(
 		&k8smetrics.GaugeOpts{
-			Name: "managed_controller_instance_count",
-			Help: "Instances of individual controllers currently running",
+			Name:           "managed_controller_instance_count",
+			Help:           "Instances of individual controllers currently running",
+			StabilityLevel: k8smetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
 		[]string{"controller_name", "controller_manager"},
 	)
@@ -46,6 +47,11 @@ func newControllerMetrics() *ControllerMetrics {
 	}
 }
 
+// controller_name and controller_manager should be updated to validate against bounded lists
+// this will allow us to confirm they are populated with "good" values.
+
+// These values use set instead of inc/dec to avoid accidentally double counting
+// a controller that starts but fails to properly signal when it crashes.
 // ControllerStarted sets the controllerInstanceCount to 1.
 func (a *ControllerMetrics) ControllerStarted(controllerName string, controllerManager string) {
 	a.controllerInstanceCount.With(k8smetrics.Labels{"controller_name": controllerName, "controller_manager": controllerManager}).Set(float64(1))