diff --git a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/core.go b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/core.go
index 07daa9251e9..9689fa40431 100644
--- a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/core.go
+++ b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/core.go
@@ -346,6 +346,7 @@ func startPodGCController(ctx ControllerContext) (http.Handler, bool, error) {
 	go podgc.NewPodGC(
 		ctx.ClientBuilder.ClientOrDie("pod-garbage-collector"),
 		ctx.InformerFactory.Core().V1().Pods(),
+		ctx.InformerFactory.Core().V1().Nodes(),
 		int(ctx.ComponentConfig.PodGCController.TerminatedPodGCThreshold),
 	).Run(ctx.Stop)
 	return nil, true, nil
diff --git a/pkg/controller/podgc/BUILD b/pkg/controller/podgc/BUILD
index 2a10e7eb2f2..12b277432e8 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/podgc/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/controller/podgc/BUILD
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ go_library(
     visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
     deps = [
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/api/core/v1:go_default_library",
+        "//staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/runtime:go_default_library",
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ go_library(
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/listers/core/v1:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/tools/cache:go_default_library",
+        "//staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/component-base/metrics/prometheus/ratelimiter:go_default_library",
         "//vendor/k8s.io/klog:go_default_library",
     ],
@@ -34,11 +36,14 @@ go_test(
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/api/core/v1:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels:go_default_library",
+        "//staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets:go_default_library",
+        "//staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/informers:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/informers/core/v1:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes:go_default_library",
         "//staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/fake:go_default_library",
+        "//staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue:go_default_library",
     ],
 )
 
diff --git a/pkg/controller/podgc/gc_controller.go b/pkg/controller/podgc/gc_controller.go
index 02820611b26..ab1a060f242 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/podgc/gc_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/podgc/gc_controller.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
 	utilruntime "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/runtime"
@@ -31,41 +32,53 @@ import (
 	clientset "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes"
 	corelisters "k8s.io/client-go/listers/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/cache"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue"
 	"k8s.io/component-base/metrics/prometheus/ratelimiter"
 
 	"k8s.io/klog"
 )
 
 const (
+	// gcCheckPeriod defines frequency of running main controller loop
 	gcCheckPeriod = 20 * time.Second
+	// quarantineTime defines how long Orphaned GC waits for nodes to show up
+	// in an informer before issuing a GET call to check if they are truly gone
+	quarantineTime = 40 * time.Second
 )
 
 type PodGCController struct {
 	kubeClient clientset.Interface
 
-	podLister       corelisters.PodLister
-	podListerSynced cache.InformerSynced
+	podLister        corelisters.PodLister
+	podListerSynced  cache.InformerSynced
+	nodeLister       corelisters.NodeLister
+	nodeListerSynced cache.InformerSynced
+
+	nodeQueue workqueue.DelayingInterface
 
 	deletePod              func(namespace, name string) error
 	terminatedPodThreshold int
 }
 
-func NewPodGC(kubeClient clientset.Interface, podInformer coreinformers.PodInformer, terminatedPodThreshold int) *PodGCController {
+func NewPodGC(kubeClient clientset.Interface, podInformer coreinformers.PodInformer,
+	nodeInformer coreinformers.NodeInformer, terminatedPodThreshold int) *PodGCController {
 	if kubeClient != nil && kubeClient.CoreV1().RESTClient().GetRateLimiter() != nil {
 		ratelimiter.RegisterMetricAndTrackRateLimiterUsage("gc_controller", kubeClient.CoreV1().RESTClient().GetRateLimiter())
 	}
 	gcc := &PodGCController{
 		kubeClient:             kubeClient,
 		terminatedPodThreshold: terminatedPodThreshold,
+		podLister:              podInformer.Lister(),
+		podListerSynced:        podInformer.Informer().HasSynced,
+		nodeLister:             nodeInformer.Lister(),
+		nodeListerSynced:       nodeInformer.Informer().HasSynced,
+		nodeQueue:              workqueue.NewNamedDelayingQueue("orphaned_pods_nodes"),
 		deletePod: func(namespace, name string) error {
 			klog.Infof("PodGC is force deleting Pod: %v/%v", namespace, name)
 			return kubeClient.CoreV1().Pods(namespace).Delete(name, metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0))
 		},
 	}
 
-	gcc.podLister = podInformer.Lister()
-	gcc.podListerSynced = podInformer.Informer().HasSynced
-
 	return gcc
 }
 
@@ -73,9 +86,10 @@ func (gcc *PodGCController) Run(stop <-chan struct{}) {
 	defer utilruntime.HandleCrash()
 
 	klog.Infof("Starting GC controller")
+	defer gcc.nodeQueue.ShutDown()
 	defer klog.Infof("Shutting down GC controller")
 
-	if !cache.WaitForNamedCacheSync("GC", stop, gcc.podListerSynced) {
+	if !cache.WaitForNamedCacheSync("GC", stop, gcc.podListerSynced, gcc.nodeListerSynced) {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -87,13 +101,18 @@ func (gcc *PodGCController) Run(stop <-chan struct{}) {
 func (gcc *PodGCController) gc() {
 	pods, err := gcc.podLister.List(labels.Everything())
 	if err != nil {
-		klog.Errorf("Error while listing all Pods: %v", err)
+		klog.Errorf("Error while listing all pods: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	nodes, err := gcc.nodeLister.List(labels.Everything())
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.Errorf("Error while listing all nodes: %v", err)
 		return
 	}
 	if gcc.terminatedPodThreshold > 0 {
 		gcc.gcTerminated(pods)
 	}
-	gcc.gcOrphaned(pods)
+	gcc.gcOrphaned(pods, nodes)
 	gcc.gcUnscheduledTerminating(pods)
 }
 
@@ -118,12 +137,11 @@ func (gcc *PodGCController) gcTerminated(pods []*v1.Pod) {
 	if deleteCount > terminatedPodCount {
 		deleteCount = terminatedPodCount
 	}
-	if deleteCount > 0 {
-		klog.Infof("garbage collecting %v pods", deleteCount)
-	} else {
+	if deleteCount <= 0 {
 		return
 	}
 
+	klog.Infof("garbage collecting %v pods", deleteCount)
 	// sort only when necessary
 	sort.Sort(byCreationTimestamp(terminatedPods))
 	var wait sync.WaitGroup
@@ -141,23 +159,26 @@ func (gcc *PodGCController) gcTerminated(pods []*v1.Pod) {
 }
 
 // gcOrphaned deletes pods that are bound to nodes that don't exist.
-func (gcc *PodGCController) gcOrphaned(pods []*v1.Pod) {
+func (gcc *PodGCController) gcOrphaned(pods []*v1.Pod, nodes []*v1.Node) {
 	klog.V(4).Infof("GC'ing orphaned")
-	// We want to get list of Nodes from the etcd, to make sure that it's as fresh as possible.
-	nodes, err := gcc.kubeClient.CoreV1().Nodes().List(metav1.ListOptions{})
-	if err != nil {
+	existingNodeNames := sets.NewString()
+	for _, node := range nodes {
+		existingNodeNames.Insert(node.Name)
+	}
+	// Add newly found unknown nodes to quarantine
+	for _, pod := range pods {
+		if pod.Spec.NodeName != "" && !existingNodeNames.Has(pod.Spec.NodeName) {
+			gcc.nodeQueue.AddAfter(pod.Spec.NodeName, quarantineTime)
+		}
+	}
+	// Check if nodes are still missing after quarantine period
+	deletedNodesNames, quit := gcc.discoverDeletedNodes(existingNodeNames)
+	if quit {
 		return
 	}
-	nodeNames := sets.NewString()
-	for i := range nodes.Items {
-		nodeNames.Insert(nodes.Items[i].Name)
-	}
-
+	// Delete orphaned pods
 	for _, pod := range pods {
-		if pod.Spec.NodeName == "" {
-			continue
-		}
-		if nodeNames.Has(pod.Spec.NodeName) {
+		if !deletedNodesNames.Has(pod.Spec.NodeName) {
 			continue
 		}
 		klog.V(2).Infof("Found orphaned Pod %v/%v assigned to the Node %v. Deleting.", pod.Namespace, pod.Name, pod.Spec.NodeName)
@@ -169,6 +190,37 @@ func (gcc *PodGCController) gcOrphaned(pods []*v1.Pod) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (gcc *PodGCController) discoverDeletedNodes(existingNodeNames sets.String) (sets.String, bool) {
+	deletedNodesNames := sets.NewString()
+	for gcc.nodeQueue.Len() > 0 {
+		item, quit := gcc.nodeQueue.Get()
+		if quit {
+			return nil, true
+		}
+		nodeName := item.(string)
+		if !existingNodeNames.Has(nodeName) {
+			exists, err := gcc.checkIfNodeExists(nodeName)
+			switch {
+			case err != nil:
+				klog.Errorf("Error while getting node %q: %v", nodeName, err)
+				// Node will be added back to the queue in the subsequent loop if still needed
+			case !exists:
+				deletedNodesNames.Insert(nodeName)
+			}
+		}
+		gcc.nodeQueue.Done(item)
+	}
+	return deletedNodesNames, false
+}
+
+func (gcc *PodGCController) checkIfNodeExists(name string) (bool, error) {
+	_, fetchErr := gcc.kubeClient.CoreV1().Nodes().Get(name, metav1.GetOptions{})
+	if errors.IsNotFound(fetchErr) {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	return fetchErr == nil, fetchErr
+}
+
 // gcUnscheduledTerminating deletes pods that are terminating and haven't been scheduled to a particular node.
 func (gcc *PodGCController) gcUnscheduledTerminating(pods []*v1.Pod) {
 	klog.V(4).Infof("GC'ing unscheduled pods which are terminating.")
diff --git a/pkg/controller/podgc/gc_controller_test.go b/pkg/controller/podgc/gc_controller_test.go
index 73ecd7a8ccf..674582c4fdb 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/podgc/gc_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/podgc/gc_controller_test.go
@@ -21,14 +21,17 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/informers"
 	coreinformers "k8s.io/client-go/informers/core/v1"
 	clientset "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/fake"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/controller"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/controller/testutil"
 )
@@ -47,12 +50,25 @@ func (*FakeController) LastSyncResourceVersion() string {
 
 func alwaysReady() bool { return true }
 
-func NewFromClient(kubeClient clientset.Interface, terminatedPodThreshold int) (*PodGCController, coreinformers.PodInformer) {
+func NewFromClient(kubeClient clientset.Interface, terminatedPodThreshold int) (*PodGCController, coreinformers.PodInformer, coreinformers.NodeInformer) {
 	informerFactory := informers.NewSharedInformerFactory(kubeClient, controller.NoResyncPeriodFunc())
 	podInformer := informerFactory.Core().V1().Pods()
-	controller := NewPodGC(kubeClient, podInformer, terminatedPodThreshold)
+	nodeInformer := informerFactory.Core().V1().Nodes()
+	controller := NewPodGC(kubeClient, podInformer, nodeInformer, terminatedPodThreshold)
 	controller.podListerSynced = alwaysReady
-	return controller, podInformer
+	return controller, podInformer, nodeInformer
+}
+
+func compareStringSetToList(set sets.String, list []string) bool {
+	for _, item := range list {
+		if !set.Has(item) {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	if len(list) != len(set) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
 }
 
 func TestGCTerminated(t *testing.T) {
@@ -113,7 +129,7 @@ func TestGCTerminated(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for i, test := range testCases {
 		client := fake.NewSimpleClientset(&v1.NodeList{Items: []v1.Node{*testutil.NewNode("node")}})
-		gcc, podInformer := NewFromClient(client, test.threshold)
+		gcc, podInformer, _ := NewFromClient(client, test.threshold)
 		deletedPodNames := make([]string, 0)
 		var lock sync.Mutex
 		gcc.deletePod = func(_, name string) error {
@@ -135,90 +151,232 @@ func TestGCTerminated(t *testing.T) {
 
 		gcc.gc()
 
-		pass := true
-		for _, pod := range deletedPodNames {
-			if !test.deletedPodNames.Has(pod) {
-				pass = false
-			}
-		}
-		if len(deletedPodNames) != len(test.deletedPodNames) {
-			pass = false
-		}
-		if !pass {
-			t.Errorf("[%v]pod's deleted expected and actual did not match.\n\texpected: %v\n\tactual: %v", i, test.deletedPodNames, deletedPodNames)
+		if pass := compareStringSetToList(test.deletedPodNames, deletedPodNames); !pass {
+			t.Errorf("[%v]pod's deleted expected and actual did not match.\n\texpected: %v\n\tactual: %v",
+				i, test.deletedPodNames.List(), deletedPodNames)
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-func TestGCOrphaned(t *testing.T) {
-	type nameToPhase struct {
-		name  string
-		phase v1.PodPhase
+func makePod(name string, nodeName string, phase v1.PodPhase) *v1.Pod {
+	return &v1.Pod{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+			Name: name,
+		},
+		Spec:   v1.PodSpec{NodeName: nodeName},
+		Status: v1.PodStatus{Phase: phase},
 	}
+}
 
+func waitForAdded(q workqueue.DelayingInterface, depth int) error {
+	return wait.Poll(1*time.Millisecond, 10*time.Second, func() (done bool, err error) {
+		if q.Len() == depth {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+
+		return false, nil
+	})
+}
+
+func TestGCOrphaned(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
-		pods            []nameToPhase
-		threshold       int
-		deletedPodNames sets.String
+		name                 string
+		initialClientNodes   []*v1.Node
+		initialInformerNodes []*v1.Node
+		delay                time.Duration
+		addedClientNodes     []*v1.Node
+		deletedClientNodes   []*v1.Node
+		addedInformerNodes   []*v1.Node
+		deletedInformerNodes []*v1.Node
+		pods                 []*v1.Pod
+		itemsInQueue         int
+		deletedPodNames      sets.String
 	}{
 		{
-			pods: []nameToPhase{
-				{name: "a", phase: v1.PodFailed},
-				{name: "b", phase: v1.PodSucceeded},
+			name: "nodes present in lister",
+			initialInformerNodes: []*v1.Node{
+				testutil.NewNode("existing1"),
+				testutil.NewNode("existing2"),
 			},
-			threshold:       0,
+			delay: 2 * quarantineTime,
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				makePod("a", "existing1", v1.PodRunning),
+				makePod("b", "existing2", v1.PodFailed),
+				makePod("c", "existing2", v1.PodSucceeded),
+			},
+			itemsInQueue:    0,
+			deletedPodNames: sets.NewString(),
+		},
+		{
+			name: "nodes present in client",
+			initialClientNodes: []*v1.Node{
+				testutil.NewNode("existing1"),
+				testutil.NewNode("existing2"),
+			},
+			delay: 2 * quarantineTime,
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				makePod("a", "existing1", v1.PodRunning),
+				makePod("b", "existing2", v1.PodFailed),
+				makePod("c", "existing2", v1.PodSucceeded),
+			},
+			itemsInQueue:    2,
+			deletedPodNames: sets.NewString(),
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "no nodes",
+			delay: 2 * quarantineTime,
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				makePod("a", "deleted", v1.PodFailed),
+				makePod("b", "deleted", v1.PodSucceeded),
+			},
+			itemsInQueue:    1,
 			deletedPodNames: sets.NewString("a", "b"),
 		},
 		{
-			pods: []nameToPhase{
-				{name: "a", phase: v1.PodRunning},
+			name:  "quarantine not finished",
+			delay: quarantineTime / 2,
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				makePod("a", "deleted", v1.PodFailed),
 			},
-			threshold:       1,
+			itemsInQueue:    0,
+			deletedPodNames: sets.NewString(),
+		},
+		{
+			name:                 "wrong nodes",
+			initialInformerNodes: []*v1.Node{testutil.NewNode("existing")},
+			delay:                2 * quarantineTime,
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				makePod("a", "deleted", v1.PodRunning),
+			},
+			itemsInQueue:    1,
 			deletedPodNames: sets.NewString("a"),
 		},
+		{
+			name:                 "some nodes missing",
+			initialInformerNodes: []*v1.Node{testutil.NewNode("existing")},
+			delay:                2 * quarantineTime,
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				makePod("a", "deleted", v1.PodFailed),
+				makePod("b", "existing", v1.PodFailed),
+				makePod("c", "deleted", v1.PodSucceeded),
+				makePod("d", "deleted", v1.PodRunning),
+			},
+			itemsInQueue:    1,
+			deletedPodNames: sets.NewString("a", "c", "d"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:             "node added to client after quarantine",
+			delay:            2 * quarantineTime,
+			addedClientNodes: []*v1.Node{testutil.NewNode("node")},
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				makePod("a", "node", v1.PodRunning),
+			},
+			itemsInQueue:    1,
+			deletedPodNames: sets.NewString(),
+		},
+		{
+			name:               "node added to informer after quarantine",
+			delay:              2 * quarantineTime,
+			addedInformerNodes: []*v1.Node{testutil.NewNode("node")},
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				makePod("a", "node", v1.PodFailed),
+			},
+			itemsInQueue:    1,
+			deletedPodNames: sets.NewString(),
+		},
+		{
+			// It shouldn't happen that client will be lagging behind informer.
+			// This test case is more a sanity check.
+			name:               "node deleted from client after quarantine",
+			initialClientNodes: []*v1.Node{testutil.NewNode("node")},
+			delay:              2 * quarantineTime,
+			deletedClientNodes: []*v1.Node{testutil.NewNode("node")},
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				makePod("a", "node", v1.PodFailed),
+			},
+			itemsInQueue:    1,
+			deletedPodNames: sets.NewString("a"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:                 "node deleted from informer after quarantine",
+			initialInformerNodes: []*v1.Node{testutil.NewNode("node")},
+			delay:                2 * quarantineTime,
+			deletedInformerNodes: []*v1.Node{testutil.NewNode("node")},
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				makePod("a", "node", v1.PodSucceeded),
+			},
+			itemsInQueue:    0,
+			deletedPodNames: sets.NewString(),
+		},
 	}
 
-	for i, test := range testCases {
-		client := fake.NewSimpleClientset()
-		gcc, podInformer := NewFromClient(client, test.threshold)
-		deletedPodNames := make([]string, 0)
-		var lock sync.Mutex
-		gcc.deletePod = func(_, name string) error {
-			lock.Lock()
-			defer lock.Unlock()
-			deletedPodNames = append(deletedPodNames, name)
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		creationTime := time.Unix(0, 0)
-		for _, pod := range test.pods {
-			creationTime = creationTime.Add(1 * time.Hour)
-			podInformer.Informer().GetStore().Add(&v1.Pod{
-				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: pod.name, CreationTimestamp: metav1.Time{Time: creationTime}},
-				Status:     v1.PodStatus{Phase: pod.phase},
-				Spec:       v1.PodSpec{NodeName: "node"},
-			})
-		}
-
-		pods, err := podInformer.Lister().List(labels.Everything())
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("Error while listing all Pods: %v", err)
-			return
-		}
-		gcc.gcOrphaned(pods)
-
-		pass := true
-		for _, pod := range deletedPodNames {
-			if !test.deletedPodNames.Has(pod) {
-				pass = false
+	for _, test := range testCases {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			nodeList := &v1.NodeList{}
+			for _, node := range test.initialClientNodes {
+				nodeList.Items = append(nodeList.Items, *node)
 			}
-		}
-		if len(deletedPodNames) != len(test.deletedPodNames) {
-			pass = false
-		}
-		if !pass {
-			t.Errorf("[%v]pod's deleted expected and actual did not match.\n\texpected: %v\n\tactual: %v", i, test.deletedPodNames, deletedPodNames)
-		}
+			client := fake.NewSimpleClientset(nodeList)
+			gcc, podInformer, nodeInformer := NewFromClient(client, -1)
+			for _, node := range test.initialInformerNodes {
+				nodeInformer.Informer().GetStore().Add(node)
+			}
+			for _, pod := range test.pods {
+				podInformer.Informer().GetStore().Add(pod)
+			}
+			// Overwrite queue
+			fakeClock := clock.NewFakeClock(time.Now())
+			gcc.nodeQueue.ShutDown()
+			gcc.nodeQueue = workqueue.NewDelayingQueueWithCustomClock(fakeClock, "podgc_test_queue")
+
+			deletedPodNames := make([]string, 0)
+			var lock sync.Mutex
+			gcc.deletePod = func(_, name string) error {
+				lock.Lock()
+				defer lock.Unlock()
+				deletedPodNames = append(deletedPodNames, name)
+				return nil
+			}
+
+			// First GC of orphaned pods
+			gcc.gc()
+			if len(deletedPodNames) > 0 {
+				t.Errorf("no pods should be deleted at this point.\n\tactual: %v", deletedPodNames)
+			}
+
+			// Move clock forward
+			fakeClock.Step(test.delay)
+			// Wait for queue goroutine to process items
+			if test.itemsInQueue > 0 {
+				err := waitForAdded(gcc.nodeQueue, test.itemsInQueue)
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Errorf("wrong number of items in the node queue.\n\texpected: %v\n\tactual: %v",
+						test.itemsInQueue, gcc.nodeQueue.Len())
+				}
+			}
+
+			// Execute planned nodes changes
+			for _, node := range test.addedClientNodes {
+				client.CoreV1().Nodes().Create(node)
+			}
+			for _, node := range test.deletedClientNodes {
+				client.CoreV1().Nodes().Delete(node.Name, &metav1.DeleteOptions{})
+			}
+			for _, node := range test.addedInformerNodes {
+				nodeInformer.Informer().GetStore().Add(node)
+			}
+			for _, node := range test.deletedInformerNodes {
+				nodeInformer.Informer().GetStore().Delete(node)
+			}
+
+			// Actual pod deletion
+			gcc.gc()
+
+			if pass := compareStringSetToList(test.deletedPodNames, deletedPodNames); !pass {
+				t.Errorf("pod's deleted expected and actual did not match.\n\texpected: %v\n\tactual: %v",
+					test.deletedPodNames.List(), deletedPodNames)
+			}
+		})
 	}
 }
 
@@ -257,7 +415,7 @@ func TestGCUnscheduledTerminating(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for i, test := range testCases {
 		client := fake.NewSimpleClientset()
-		gcc, podInformer := NewFromClient(client, -1)
+		gcc, podInformer, _ := NewFromClient(client, -1)
 		deletedPodNames := make([]string, 0)
 		var lock sync.Mutex
 		gcc.deletePod = func(_, name string) error {
@@ -285,17 +443,9 @@ func TestGCUnscheduledTerminating(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		gcc.gcUnscheduledTerminating(pods)
 
-		pass := true
-		for _, pod := range deletedPodNames {
-			if !test.deletedPodNames.Has(pod) {
-				pass = false
-			}
-		}
-		if len(deletedPodNames) != len(test.deletedPodNames) {
-			pass = false
-		}
-		if !pass {
-			t.Errorf("[%v]pod's deleted expected and actual did not match.\n\texpected: %v\n\tactual: %v, test: %v", i, test.deletedPodNames, deletedPodNames, test.name)
+		if pass := compareStringSetToList(test.deletedPodNames, deletedPodNames); !pass {
+			t.Errorf("[%v]pod's deleted expected and actual did not match.\n\texpected: %v\n\tactual: %v, test: %v",
+				i, test.deletedPodNames.List(), deletedPodNames, test.name)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/plugin/pkg/auth/authorizer/rbac/bootstrappolicy/controller_policy.go b/plugin/pkg/auth/authorizer/rbac/bootstrappolicy/controller_policy.go
index 08d57be51a1..8ae39744b6e 100644
--- a/plugin/pkg/auth/authorizer/rbac/bootstrappolicy/controller_policy.go
+++ b/plugin/pkg/auth/authorizer/rbac/bootstrappolicy/controller_policy.go
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ func buildControllerRoles() ([]rbacv1.ClusterRole, []rbacv1.ClusterRoleBinding)
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: saRolePrefix + "pod-garbage-collector"},
 		Rules: []rbacv1.PolicyRule{
 			rbacv1helpers.NewRule("list", "watch", "delete").Groups(legacyGroup).Resources("pods").RuleOrDie(),
-			rbacv1helpers.NewRule("list").Groups(legacyGroup).Resources("nodes").RuleOrDie(),
+			rbacv1helpers.NewRule("get", "list").Groups(legacyGroup).Resources("nodes").RuleOrDie(),
 		},
 	})
 	addControllerRole(&controllerRoles, &controllerRoleBindings, rbacv1.ClusterRole{
diff --git a/plugin/pkg/auth/authorizer/rbac/bootstrappolicy/testdata/controller-roles.yaml b/plugin/pkg/auth/authorizer/rbac/bootstrappolicy/testdata/controller-roles.yaml
index 7a76381fc61..969d81fe10b 100644
--- a/plugin/pkg/auth/authorizer/rbac/bootstrappolicy/testdata/controller-roles.yaml
+++ b/plugin/pkg/auth/authorizer/rbac/bootstrappolicy/testdata/controller-roles.yaml
@@ -872,6 +872,7 @@ items:
     resources:
     - nodes
     verbs:
+    - get
     - list
 - apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
   kind: ClusterRole
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/delaying_queue.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/delaying_queue.go
index 3868bcac4d2..e1ab76ea218 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/delaying_queue.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/delaying_queue.go
@@ -35,14 +35,17 @@ type DelayingInterface interface {
 
 // NewDelayingQueue constructs a new workqueue with delayed queuing ability
 func NewDelayingQueue() DelayingInterface {
-	return newDelayingQueue(clock.RealClock{}, "")
+	return NewDelayingQueueWithCustomClock(clock.RealClock{}, "")
 }
 
+// NewNamedDelayingQueue constructs a new named workqueue with delayed queuing ability
 func NewNamedDelayingQueue(name string) DelayingInterface {
-	return newDelayingQueue(clock.RealClock{}, name)
+	return NewDelayingQueueWithCustomClock(clock.RealClock{}, name)
 }
 
-func newDelayingQueue(clock clock.Clock, name string) DelayingInterface {
+// NewDelayingQueueWithCustomClock constructs a new named workqueue
+// with ability to inject real or fake clock for testing purposes
+func NewDelayingQueueWithCustomClock(clock clock.Clock, name string) DelayingInterface {
 	ret := &delayingType{
 		Interface:       NewNamed(name),
 		clock:           clock,
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/delaying_queue_test.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/delaying_queue_test.go
index 4e427c6b081..2af8ba3a6a1 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/delaying_queue_test.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/delaying_queue_test.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestSimpleQueue(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeClock := clock.NewFakeClock(time.Now())
-	q := newDelayingQueue(fakeClock, "")
+	q := NewDelayingQueueWithCustomClock(fakeClock, "")
 
 	first := "foo"
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func TestSimpleQueue(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDeduping(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeClock := clock.NewFakeClock(time.Now())
-	q := newDelayingQueue(fakeClock, "")
+	q := NewDelayingQueueWithCustomClock(fakeClock, "")
 
 	first := "foo"
 
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func TestDeduping(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestAddTwoFireEarly(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeClock := clock.NewFakeClock(time.Now())
-	q := newDelayingQueue(fakeClock, "")
+	q := NewDelayingQueueWithCustomClock(fakeClock, "")
 
 	first := "foo"
 	second := "bar"
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ func TestAddTwoFireEarly(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestCopyShifting(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeClock := clock.NewFakeClock(time.Now())
-	q := newDelayingQueue(fakeClock, "")
+	q := NewDelayingQueueWithCustomClock(fakeClock, "")
 
 	first := "foo"
 	second := "bar"
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ func TestCopyShifting(t *testing.T) {
 
 func BenchmarkDelayingQueue_AddAfter(b *testing.B) {
 	fakeClock := clock.NewFakeClock(time.Now())
-	q := newDelayingQueue(fakeClock, "")
+	q := NewDelayingQueueWithCustomClock(fakeClock, "")
 
 	// Add items
 	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {