diff --git a/pkg/controller/garbagecollector/garbagecollector.go b/pkg/controller/garbagecollector/garbagecollector.go
index f132b26540b..fe05899fb20 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/garbagecollector/garbagecollector.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/garbagecollector/garbagecollector.go
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func (p *Propagator) addDependentToOwners(n *node, owners []metatypes.OwnerRefer
 			}
 			glog.V(6).Infof("add virtual node.identity: %s\n\n", ownerNode.identity)
 			p.uidToNode.Write(ownerNode)
-			p.gc.dirtyQueue.Add(ownerNode)
+			p.gc.dirtyQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: p.gc.clock.Now(), Object: ownerNode})
 		}
 		ownerNode.addDependent(n)
 	}
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func referencesDiffs(old []metatypes.OwnerReference, new []metatypes.OwnerRefere
 	return added, removed
 }
 
-func shouldOrphanDependents(e event, accessor meta.Object) bool {
+func shouldOrphanDependents(e *event, accessor meta.Object) bool {
 	// The delta_fifo may combine the creation and update of the object into one
 	// event, so we need to check AddEvent as well.
 	if e.oldObj == nil {
@@ -311,14 +311,14 @@ func (gc *GarbageCollector) removeOrphanFinalizer(owner *node) error {
 // the "Orphan" finalizer. The node is add back into the orphanQueue if any of
 // these steps fail.
 func (gc *GarbageCollector) orphanFinalizer() {
-	key, start, quit := gc.orphanQueue.Get()
+	timedItem, quit := gc.orphanQueue.Get()
 	if quit {
 		return
 	}
-	defer gc.orphanQueue.Done(key)
-	owner, ok := key.(*node)
+	defer gc.orphanQueue.Done(timedItem)
+	owner, ok := timedItem.Object.(*node)
 	if !ok {
-		utilruntime.HandleError(fmt.Errorf("expect *node, got %#v", key))
+		utilruntime.HandleError(fmt.Errorf("expect *node, got %#v", timedItem.Object))
 	}
 	// we don't need to lock each element, because they never get updated
 	owner.dependentsLock.RLock()
@@ -331,28 +331,28 @@ func (gc *GarbageCollector) orphanFinalizer() {
 	err := gc.orhpanDependents(owner.identity, dependents)
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.V(6).Infof("orphanDependents for %s failed with %v", owner.identity, err)
-		gc.orphanQueue.AddWithTimestamp(owner, start)
+		gc.orphanQueue.Add(timedItem)
 		return
 	}
 	// update the owner, remove "orphaningFinalizer" from its finalizers list
 	err = gc.removeOrphanFinalizer(owner)
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.V(6).Infof("removeOrphanFinalizer for %s failed with %v", owner.identity, err)
-		gc.orphanQueue.AddWithTimestamp(owner, start)
+		gc.orphanQueue.Add(timedItem)
 	}
-	OrphanProcessingLatency.Observe(sinceInMicroseconds(gc.clock, start))
+	OrphanProcessingLatency.Observe(sinceInMicroseconds(gc.clock, timedItem.StartTime))
 }
 
 // Dequeueing an event from eventQueue, updating graph, populating dirty_queue.
 func (p *Propagator) processEvent() {
-	key, start, quit := p.eventQueue.Get()
+	timedItem, quit := p.eventQueue.Get()
 	if quit {
 		return
 	}
-	defer p.eventQueue.Done(key)
-	event, ok := key.(event)
+	defer p.eventQueue.Done(timedItem)
+	event, ok := timedItem.Object.(*event)
 	if !ok {
-		utilruntime.HandleError(fmt.Errorf("expect an event, got %v", key))
+		utilruntime.HandleError(fmt.Errorf("expect a *event, got %v", timedItem.Object))
 		return
 	}
 	obj := event.obj
@@ -388,14 +388,14 @@ func (p *Propagator) processEvent() {
 		// the underlying delta_fifo may combine a creation and deletion into one event
 		if shouldOrphanDependents(event, accessor) {
 			glog.V(6).Infof("add %s to the orphanQueue", newNode.identity)
-			p.gc.orphanQueue.Add(newNode)
+			p.gc.orphanQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: p.gc.clock.Now(), Object: newNode})
 		}
 	case (event.eventType == addEvent || event.eventType == updateEvent) && found:
 		// caveat: if GC observes the creation of the dependents later than the
 		// deletion of the owner, then the orphaning finalizer won't be effective.
 		if shouldOrphanDependents(event, accessor) {
 			glog.V(6).Infof("add %s to the orphanQueue", existingNode.identity)
-			p.gc.orphanQueue.Add(existingNode)
+			p.gc.orphanQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: p.gc.clock.Now(), Object: existingNode})
 		}
 		// add/remove owner refs
 		added, removed := referencesDiffs(existingNode.owners, accessor.GetOwnerReferences())
@@ -419,10 +419,10 @@ func (p *Propagator) processEvent() {
 		existingNode.dependentsLock.RLock()
 		defer existingNode.dependentsLock.RUnlock()
 		for dep := range existingNode.dependents {
-			p.gc.dirtyQueue.Add(dep)
+			p.gc.dirtyQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: p.gc.clock.Now(), Object: dep})
 		}
 	}
-	EventProcessingLatency.Observe(sinceInMicroseconds(p.gc.clock, start))
+	EventProcessingLatency.Observe(sinceInMicroseconds(p.gc.clock, timedItem.StartTime))
 }
 
 // GarbageCollector is responsible for carrying out cascading deletion, and
@@ -494,17 +494,17 @@ func (gc *GarbageCollector) monitorFor(resource unversioned.GroupVersionResource
 			// add the event to the propagator's eventQueue.
 			AddFunc: func(obj interface{}) {
 				setObjectTypeMeta(obj)
-				event := event{
+				event := &event{
 					eventType: addEvent,
 					obj:       obj,
 				}
-				gc.propagator.eventQueue.Add(event)
+				gc.propagator.eventQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: gc.clock.Now(), Object: event})
 			},
 			UpdateFunc: func(oldObj, newObj interface{}) {
 				setObjectTypeMeta(newObj)
 				setObjectTypeMeta(oldObj)
-				event := event{updateEvent, newObj, oldObj}
-				gc.propagator.eventQueue.Add(event)
+				event := &event{updateEvent, newObj, oldObj}
+				gc.propagator.eventQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: gc.clock.Now(), Object: event})
 			},
 			DeleteFunc: func(obj interface{}) {
 				// delta fifo may wrap the object in a cache.DeletedFinalStateUnknown, unwrap it
@@ -512,11 +512,11 @@ func (gc *GarbageCollector) monitorFor(resource unversioned.GroupVersionResource
 					obj = deletedFinalStateUnknown.Obj
 				}
 				setObjectTypeMeta(obj)
-				event := event{
+				event := &event{
 					eventType: deleteEvent,
 					obj:       obj,
 				}
-				gc.propagator.eventQueue.Add(event)
+				gc.propagator.eventQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: gc.clock.Now(), Object: event})
 			},
 		},
 	)
@@ -533,20 +533,19 @@ var ignoredResources = map[unversioned.GroupVersionResource]struct{}{
 }
 
 func NewGarbageCollector(metaOnlyClientPool dynamic.ClientPool, clientPool dynamic.ClientPool, resources []unversioned.GroupVersionResource) (*GarbageCollector, error) {
-	clock := clock.RealClock{}
 	gc := &GarbageCollector{
 		metaOnlyClientPool: metaOnlyClientPool,
 		clientPool:         clientPool,
 		// TODO: should use a dynamic RESTMapper built from the discovery results.
 		restMapper:                       registered.RESTMapper(),
-		clock:                            clock,
-		dirtyQueue:                       workqueue.NewTimedWorkQueue(clock),
-		orphanQueue:                      workqueue.NewTimedWorkQueue(clock),
+		clock:                            clock.RealClock{},
+		dirtyQueue:                       workqueue.NewTimedWorkQueue(),
+		orphanQueue:                      workqueue.NewTimedWorkQueue(),
 		registeredRateLimiter:            NewRegisteredRateLimiter(),
 		registeredRateLimiterForMonitors: NewRegisteredRateLimiter(),
 	}
 	gc.propagator = &Propagator{
-		eventQueue: workqueue.NewTimedWorkQueue(gc.clock),
+		eventQueue: workqueue.NewTimedWorkQueue(),
 		uidToNode: &concurrentUIDToNode{
 			RWMutex:   &sync.RWMutex{},
 			uidToNode: make(map[types.UID]*node),
@@ -572,16 +571,16 @@ func NewGarbageCollector(metaOnlyClientPool dynamic.ClientPool, clientPool dynam
 }
 
 func (gc *GarbageCollector) worker() {
-	key, start, quit := gc.dirtyQueue.Get()
+	timedItem, quit := gc.dirtyQueue.Get()
 	if quit {
 		return
 	}
-	defer gc.dirtyQueue.Done(key)
-	err := gc.processItem(key.(*node))
+	defer gc.dirtyQueue.Done(timedItem)
+	err := gc.processItem(timedItem.Object.(*node))
 	if err != nil {
-		utilruntime.HandleError(fmt.Errorf("Error syncing item %#v: %v", key, err))
+		utilruntime.HandleError(fmt.Errorf("Error syncing item %#v: %v", timedItem.Object, err))
 	}
-	DirtyProcessingLatency.Observe(sinceInMicroseconds(gc.clock, start))
+	DirtyProcessingLatency.Observe(sinceInMicroseconds(gc.clock, timedItem.StartTime))
 }
 
 // apiResource consults the REST mapper to translate an <apiVersion, kind,
@@ -681,24 +680,24 @@ func (gc *GarbageCollector) processItem(item *node) error {
 			// exist yet, so we need to enqueue a virtual Delete event to remove
 			// the virtual node from Propagator.uidToNode.
 			glog.V(6).Infof("item %v not found, generating a virtual delete event", item.identity)
-			event := event{
+			event := &event{
 				eventType: deleteEvent,
 				obj:       objectReferenceToMetadataOnlyObject(item.identity),
 			}
 			glog.V(6).Infof("generating virtual delete event for %s\n\n", event.obj)
-			gc.propagator.eventQueue.Add(event)
+			gc.propagator.eventQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: gc.clock.Now(), Object: event})
 			return nil
 		}
 		return err
 	}
 	if latest.GetUID() != item.identity.UID {
 		glog.V(6).Infof("UID doesn't match, item %v not found, generating a virtual delete event", item.identity)
-		event := event{
+		event := &event{
 			eventType: deleteEvent,
 			obj:       objectReferenceToMetadataOnlyObject(item.identity),
 		}
 		glog.V(6).Infof("generating virtual delete event for %s\n\n", event.obj)
-		gc.propagator.eventQueue.Add(event)
+		gc.propagator.eventQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: gc.clock.Now(), Object: event})
 		return nil
 	}
 	ownerReferences := latest.GetOwnerReferences()
diff --git a/pkg/controller/garbagecollector/garbagecollector_test.go b/pkg/controller/garbagecollector/garbagecollector_test.go
index 9b9b7cf4c49..9ed1da9b028 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/garbagecollector/garbagecollector_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/garbagecollector/garbagecollector_test.go
@@ -283,18 +283,18 @@ func TestProcessEvent(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, scenario := range testScenarios {
 		propagator := &Propagator{
-			eventQueue: workqueue.NewTimedWorkQueue(clock.RealClock{}),
+			eventQueue: workqueue.NewTimedWorkQueue(),
 			uidToNode: &concurrentUIDToNode{
 				RWMutex:   &sync.RWMutex{},
 				uidToNode: make(map[types.UID]*node),
 			},
 			gc: &GarbageCollector{
-				dirtyQueue: workqueue.NewTimedWorkQueue(clock.RealClock{}),
+				dirtyQueue: workqueue.NewTimedWorkQueue(),
 				clock:      clock.RealClock{},
 			},
 		}
 		for i := 0; i < len(scenario.events); i++ {
-			propagator.eventQueue.Add(scenario.events[i])
+			propagator.eventQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: propagator.gc.clock.Now(), Object: &scenario.events[i]})
 			propagator.processEvent()
 			verifyGraphInvariants(scenario.name, propagator.uidToNode.uidToNode, t)
 		}
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ func TestDependentsRace(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 	go func() {
-		gc.orphanQueue.Add(owner)
+		gc.orphanQueue.Add(&workqueue.TimedWorkQueueItem{StartTime: gc.clock.Now(), Object: owner})
 		for i := 0; i < updates; i++ {
 			gc.orphanFinalizer()
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/util/workqueue/timed_queue.go b/pkg/util/workqueue/timed_queue.go
index d22ed8bfcad..2ad90bfdfcf 100644
--- a/pkg/util/workqueue/timed_queue.go
+++ b/pkg/util/workqueue/timed_queue.go
@@ -16,47 +16,37 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 package workqueue
 
-import (
-	"time"
-
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util/clock"
-)
+import "time"
 
 type TimedWorkQueue struct {
 	*Type
-	clock clock.Clock
 }
 
-type timedWorkQueueItem struct {
-	time time.Time
-	obj  interface{}
+type TimedWorkQueueItem struct {
+	StartTime time.Time
+	Object    interface{}
 }
 
-func NewTimedWorkQueue(clock clock.Clock) *TimedWorkQueue {
-	return &TimedWorkQueue{New(), clock}
+func NewTimedWorkQueue() *TimedWorkQueue {
+	return &TimedWorkQueue{New()}
 }
 
 // Add adds the obj along with the current timestamp to the queue.
-func (q TimedWorkQueue) Add(obj interface{}) {
-	start := q.clock.Now()
-	item := timedWorkQueueItem{start, obj}
-	q.Type.Add(item)
-}
-
-// AddWithTimestamp is useful if the caller does not want to refresh the start
-// time when requeuing an item.
-func (q TimedWorkQueue) AddWithTimestamp(obj interface{}, timestamp time.Time) {
-	item := timedWorkQueueItem{timestamp, obj}
-	q.Type.Add(item)
+func (q TimedWorkQueue) Add(timedItem *TimedWorkQueueItem) {
+	q.Type.Add(timedItem)
 }
 
 // Get gets the obj along with its timestamp from the queue.
-func (q TimedWorkQueue) Get() (item interface{}, start time.Time, shutdown bool) {
-	item, shutdown = q.Type.Get()
-	if item != nil {
-		timed, _ := item.(timedWorkQueueItem)
-		item = timed.obj
-		start = timed.time
+func (q TimedWorkQueue) Get() (timedItem *TimedWorkQueueItem, shutdown bool) {
+	origin, shutdown := q.Type.Get()
+	if origin == nil {
+		return nil, shutdown
 	}
-	return item, start, shutdown
+	timedItem, _ = origin.(*TimedWorkQueueItem)
+	return timedItem, shutdown
+}
+
+func (q TimedWorkQueue) Done(timedItem *TimedWorkQueueItem) error {
+	q.Type.Done(timedItem)
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/util/workqueue/timed_queue_test.go b/pkg/util/workqueue/timed_queue_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e9b3b73e322
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/util/workqueue/timed_queue_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2016 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 workqueue
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
+)
+
+func TestNoMemoryLeak(t *testing.T) {
+	timedQueue := NewTimedWorkQueue()
+	timedQueue.Add(&TimedWorkQueueItem{Object: &v1.Pod{}, StartTime: time.Time{}})
+	item, _ := timedQueue.Get()
+	timedQueue.Add(item)
+	// The item should still be in the timedQueue.
+	timedQueue.Done(item)
+	item, _ = timedQueue.Get()
+	timedQueue.Done(item)
+	if len(timedQueue.Type.processing) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expect timedQueue.Type.processing to be empty!")
+	}
+}