diff --git a/pkg/controller/daemon/daemon_controller.go b/pkg/controller/daemon/daemon_controller.go
index 34f81b717c4..6124f7bffae 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/daemon/daemon_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/daemon/daemon_controller.go
@@ -1076,9 +1076,7 @@ func (dsc *DaemonSetsController) syncNodes(ds *apps.DaemonSet, podsToDelete, nod
 		skippedPods := createDiff - (batchSize + pos)
 		if errorCount < len(errCh) && skippedPods > 0 {
 			klog.V(2).Infof("Slow-start failure. Skipping creation of %d pods, decrementing expectations for set %q/%q", skippedPods, ds.Namespace, ds.Name)
-			for i := 0; i < skippedPods; i++ {
-				dsc.expectations.CreationObserved(dsKey)
-			}
+			dsc.expectations.LowerExpectations(dsKey, skippedPods, 0)
 			// The skipped pods will be retried later. The next controller resync will
 			// retry the slow start process.
 			break