diff --git a/pkg/controller/replication_controller.go b/pkg/controller/replication_controller.go
index bdf77eedacf..b74578261e9 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replication_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replication_controller.go
@@ -187,9 +187,10 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) watchControllers(resourceVersion *string) {
 }
 
 // Helper function. Also used in pkg/registry/controller, for now.
-func FilterActivePods(pods []api.Pod) []api.Pod {
-	var result []api.Pod
-	for _, value := range pods {
+func FilterActivePods(pods []api.Pod) []*api.Pod {
+	var result []*api.Pod
+	for i := range pods {
+		value := &pods[i]
 		if api.PodSucceeded != value.Status.Phase &&
 			api.PodFailed != value.Status.Phase {
 			result = append(result, value)
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/describe.go b/pkg/kubectl/describe.go
index 60fd22adb58..c01e7a52e9e 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/describe.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/describe.go
@@ -478,12 +478,13 @@ func (d *NodeDescriber) Describe(namespace, name string) (string, error) {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	var pods []api.Pod
+	var pods []*api.Pod
 	allPods, err := d.Pods(namespace).List(labels.Everything())
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
-	for _, pod := range allPods.Items {
+	for i := range allPods.Items {
+		pod := &allPods.Items[i]
 		if pod.Spec.Host != name {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -502,7 +503,7 @@ func (d *NodeDescriber) Describe(namespace, name string) (string, error) {
 	return describeNode(node, pods, events)
 }
 
-func describeNode(node *api.Node, pods []api.Pod, events *api.EventList) (string, error) {
+func describeNode(node *api.Node, pods []*api.Pod, events *api.EventList) (string, error) {
 	return tabbedString(func(out io.Writer) error {
 		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Name:\t%s\n", node.Name)
 		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Labels:\t%s\n", formatLabels(node.Labels))
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
index 0e4e6ccea61..b643d068617 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ type SyncHandler interface {
 	// Syncs current state to match the specified pods. SyncPodType specified what
 	// type of sync is occuring per pod. StartTime specifies the time at which
 	// syncing began (for use in monitoring).
-	SyncPods(pods []*api.Pod, podSyncTypes map[types.UID]metrics.SyncPodType, mirrorPods map[string]api.Pod,
+	SyncPods(pods []*api.Pod, podSyncTypes map[types.UID]metrics.SyncPodType, mirrorPods map[string]*api.Pod,
 		startTime time.Time) error
 }
 
@@ -1315,7 +1315,7 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) syncPod(pod *api.Pod, mirrorPod *api.Pod, runningPod kubecont
 		}
 		if mirrorPod == nil {
 			glog.V(3).Infof("Creating a mirror pod %q", podFullName)
-			if err := kl.podManager.CreateMirrorPod(*pod); err != nil {
+			if err := kl.podManager.CreateMirrorPod(pod); err != nil {
 				glog.Errorf("Failed creating a mirror pod %q: %v", podFullName, err)
 			}
 			// Pod status update is edge-triggered. If there is any update of the
@@ -1399,7 +1399,7 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) cleanupOrphanedVolumes(pods []*api.Pod, running []*docker.Con
 
 // SyncPods synchronizes the configured list of pods (desired state) with the host current state.
 func (kl *Kubelet) SyncPods(allPods []*api.Pod, podSyncTypes map[types.UID]metrics.SyncPodType,
-	mirrorPods map[string]api.Pod, start time.Time) error {
+	mirrorPods map[string]*api.Pod, start time.Time) error {
 	defer func() {
 		metrics.SyncPodsLatency.Observe(metrics.SinceInMicroseconds(start))
 	}()
@@ -1439,11 +1439,7 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) SyncPods(allPods []*api.Pod, podSyncTypes map[types.UID]metri
 		desiredPods[uid] = empty{}
 
 		// Run the sync in an async manifest worker.
-		var mirrorPod *api.Pod = nil
-		if m, ok := mirrorPods[podFullName]; ok {
-			mirrorPod = &m
-		}
-		kl.podWorkers.UpdatePod(pod, mirrorPod, func() {
+		kl.podWorkers.UpdatePod(pod, mirrorPods[podFullName], func() {
 			metrics.SyncPodLatency.WithLabelValues(podSyncTypes[pod.UID].String()).Observe(metrics.SinceInMicroseconds(start))
 		})
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
index 103a6e6223b..63c630ae692 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsDoesNothing(t *testing.T) {
 
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsWithTerminationLog(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsCreatesNetAndContainer(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsCreatesNetAndContainerPullsImage(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsWithPodInfraCreatesContainer(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -808,7 +808,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsWithPodInfraCreatesContainerCallsHandler(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsDeletesWithNoPodInfraContainer(t *testing.T) {
 
 	waitGroup.Add(2)
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -968,7 +968,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsDeletesWhenSourcesAreReady(t *testing.T) {
 			ID:    "9876",
 		},
 	}
-	if err := kubelet.SyncPods([]*api.Pod{}, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now()); err != nil {
+	if err := kubelet.SyncPods([]*api.Pod{}, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now()); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 	// Validate nothing happened.
@@ -976,7 +976,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsDeletesWhenSourcesAreReady(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeDocker.ClearCalls()
 
 	ready = true
-	if err := kubelet.SyncPods([]*api.Pod{}, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now()); err != nil {
+	if err := kubelet.SyncPods([]*api.Pod{}, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now()); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 	verifyCalls(t, fakeDocker, []string{"list", "stop", "stop", "inspect_container", "inspect_container"})
@@ -1015,7 +1015,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsDeletes(t *testing.T) {
 			ID:    "4567",
 		},
 	}
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods([]*api.Pod{}, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods([]*api.Pod{}, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -1094,7 +1094,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsDeletesDuplicate(t *testing.T) {
 
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -1165,7 +1165,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsBadHash(t *testing.T) {
 
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -1239,7 +1239,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsUnhealthy(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -1851,7 +1851,7 @@ func TestSyncPodEventHandlerFails(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -1914,7 +1914,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsWithPullPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -3203,7 +3203,7 @@ func TestPurgingObsoleteStatusMapEntries(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected to have status cached for %q: %v", "pod2", err)
 	}
 	// Sync with empty pods so that the entry in status map will be removed.
-	kl.SyncPods([]*api.Pod{}, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	kl.SyncPods([]*api.Pod{}, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if _, err := kl.GetPodStatus(kubecontainer.BuildPodFullName("pod2", "")); err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("expected to not have status cached for %q: %v", "pod2", err)
 	}
@@ -3706,7 +3706,7 @@ func TestDoNotCacheStatusForStaticPods(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 	waitGroup.Add(1)
-	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+	err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -3912,7 +3912,7 @@ func TestSyncPodsWithRestartPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 
 		kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 		waitGroup.Add(1)
-		err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+		err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("%d: unexpected error: %v", i, err)
 		}
@@ -4043,7 +4043,7 @@ func TestGetPodStatusWithLastTermination(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		kubelet.podManager.SetPods(pods)
 		waitGroup.Add(1)
-		err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]api.Pod{}, time.Now())
+		err := kubelet.SyncPods(pods, emptyPodUIDs, map[string]*api.Pod{}, time.Now())
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("%d: unexpected error: %v", i, err)
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/mirror_client.go b/pkg/kubelet/mirror_client.go
index 4cad840abb5..caa12de3007 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/mirror_client.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/mirror_client.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import (
 // Mirror client is used to create/delete a mirror pod.
 
 type mirrorClient interface {
-	CreateMirrorPod(api.Pod) error
+	CreateMirrorPod(*api.Pod) error
 	DeleteMirrorPod(string) error
 }
 
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ func newBasicMirrorClient(apiserverClient client.Interface) *basicMirrorClient {
 }
 
 // Creates a mirror pod.
-func (mc *basicMirrorClient) CreateMirrorPod(pod api.Pod) error {
+func (mc *basicMirrorClient) CreateMirrorPod(pod *api.Pod) error {
 	if mc.apiserverClient == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
 	pod.Annotations[ConfigMirrorAnnotationKey] = MirrorType
 
-	_, err := mc.apiserverClient.Pods(NamespaceDefault).Create(&pod)
+	_, err := mc.apiserverClient.Pods(NamespaceDefault).Create(pod)
 	return err
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/mirror_client_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/mirror_client_test.go
index 64b5318c880..78fd607eb8f 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/mirror_client_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/mirror_client_test.go
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ type fakeMirrorClient struct {
 	deleteCounts map[string]int
 }
 
-func (fmc *fakeMirrorClient) CreateMirrorPod(pod api.Pod) error {
+func (fmc *fakeMirrorClient) CreateMirrorPod(pod *api.Pod) error {
 	fmc.mirrorPodLock.Lock()
 	defer fmc.mirrorPodLock.Unlock()
-	podFullName := kubecontainer.GetPodFullName(&pod)
+	podFullName := kubecontainer.GetPodFullName(pod)
 	fmc.mirrorPods.Insert(podFullName)
 	fmc.createCounts[podFullName]++
 	return nil
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/pod_manager.go b/pkg/kubelet/pod_manager.go
index c8a894a82e3..1b0b1e6dc1c 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/pod_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/pod_manager.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ type podManager interface {
 	GetPods() []*api.Pod
 	GetPodByFullName(podFullName string) (*api.Pod, bool)
 	GetPodByName(namespace, name string) (*api.Pod, bool)
-	GetPodsAndMirrorMap() ([]*api.Pod, map[string]api.Pod)
+	GetPodsAndMirrorMap() ([]*api.Pod, map[string]*api.Pod)
 	SetPods(pods []*api.Pod)
 	UpdatePods(u PodUpdate, podSyncTypes map[types.UID]metrics.SyncPodType)
 	DeleteOrphanedMirrorPods()
@@ -190,12 +190,12 @@ func (pm *basicPodManager) getAllPods() []*api.Pod {
 
 // GetPodsAndMirrorMap returns the a copy of the regular pods and the mirror
 // pods indexed by full name.
-func (pm *basicPodManager) GetPodsAndMirrorMap() ([]*api.Pod, map[string]api.Pod) {
+func (pm *basicPodManager) GetPodsAndMirrorMap() ([]*api.Pod, map[string]*api.Pod) {
 	pm.lock.RLock()
 	defer pm.lock.RUnlock()
-	mirrorPods := make(map[string]api.Pod)
+	mirrorPods := make(map[string]*api.Pod)
 	for key, pod := range pm.mirrorPodByFullName {
-		mirrorPods[key] = *pod
+		mirrorPods[key] = pod
 	}
 	return podsMapToPods(pm.podByUID), mirrorPods
 }
diff --git a/pkg/registry/registrytest/scheduler.go b/pkg/registry/registrytest/scheduler.go
index 2e44ccbaa32..6a463775320 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/registrytest/scheduler.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/registrytest/scheduler.go
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ import (
 
 type Scheduler struct {
 	Err     error
-	Pod     api.Pod
+	Pod     *api.Pod
 	Machine string
 }
 
-func (s *Scheduler) Schedule(pod api.Pod, lister scheduler.MinionLister) (string, error) {
+func (s *Scheduler) Schedule(pod *api.Pod, lister scheduler.MinionLister) (string, error) {
 	s.Pod = pod
 	return s.Machine, s.Err
 }
diff --git a/pkg/resourcequota/resource_quota_controller.go b/pkg/resourcequota/resource_quota_controller.go
index 3d651c12fc8..fb4189848e8 100644
--- a/pkg/resourcequota/resource_quota_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/resourcequota/resource_quota_controller.go
@@ -81,9 +81,10 @@ func (rm *ResourceQuotaManager) synchronize() {
 // pods that have a restart policy of always are always returned
 // pods that are in a failed state, but have a restart policy of on failure are always returned
 // pods that are not in a success state or a failure state are included in quota
-func FilterQuotaPods(pods []api.Pod) []api.Pod {
-	var result []api.Pod
-	for _, value := range pods {
+func FilterQuotaPods(pods []api.Pod) []*api.Pod {
+	var result []*api.Pod
+	for i := range pods {
+		value := &pods[i]
 		// a pod that has a restart policy always no matter its state counts against usage
 		if value.Spec.RestartPolicy == api.RestartPolicyAlways {
 			result = append(result, value)
@@ -170,14 +171,14 @@ func (rm *ResourceQuotaManager) syncResourceQuota(quota api.ResourceQuota) (err
 			value = resource.NewQuantity(int64(len(filteredPods)), resource.DecimalSI)
 		case api.ResourceMemory:
 			val := int64(0)
-			for i := range filteredPods {
-				val = val + PodMemory(&filteredPods[i]).Value()
+			for _, pod := range filteredPods {
+				val = val + PodMemory(pod).Value()
 			}
 			value = resource.NewQuantity(int64(val), resource.DecimalSI)
 		case api.ResourceCPU:
 			val := int64(0)
-			for i := range filteredPods {
-				val = val + PodCPU(&filteredPods[i]).MilliValue()
+			for _, pod := range filteredPods {
+				val = val + PodCPU(pod).MilliValue()
 			}
 			value = resource.NewMilliQuantity(int64(val), resource.DecimalSI)
 		case api.ResourceServices:
diff --git a/pkg/scheduler/listers.go b/pkg/scheduler/listers.go
index 73e5b58c37e..470e3aeebb5 100644
--- a/pkg/scheduler/listers.go
+++ b/pkg/scheduler/listers.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ type PodLister interface {
 // FakePodLister implements PodLister on an []api.Pods for test purposes.
 type FakePodLister []*api.Pod
 
-// List returns []api.Pod matching a query.
+// List returns []*api.Pod matching a query.
 func (f FakePodLister) List(s labels.Selector) (selected []*api.Pod, err error) {
 	for _, pod := range f {
 		if s.Matches(labels.Set(pod.Labels)) {