diff --git a/pkg/controller/nodelifecycle/scheduler/timed_workers.go b/pkg/controller/nodelifecycle/scheduler/timed_workers.go
index 2701e7ba23e..de4d7c29626 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/nodelifecycle/scheduler/timed_workers.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/nodelifecycle/scheduler/timed_workers.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock"
 
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
 )
@@ -45,17 +46,17 @@ type TimedWorker struct {
 	WorkItem  *WorkArgs
 	CreatedAt time.Time
 	FireAt    time.Time
-	Timer     *time.Timer
+	Timer     clock.Timer
 }
 
-// CreateWorker creates a TimedWorker that will execute `f` not earlier than `fireAt`.
-func CreateWorker(args *WorkArgs, createdAt time.Time, fireAt time.Time, f func(args *WorkArgs) error) *TimedWorker {
+// createWorker creates a TimedWorker that will execute `f` not earlier than `fireAt`.
+func createWorker(args *WorkArgs, createdAt time.Time, fireAt time.Time, f func(args *WorkArgs) error, clock clock.Clock) *TimedWorker {
 	delay := fireAt.Sub(createdAt)
 	if delay <= 0 {
 		go f(args)
 		return nil
 	}
-	timer := time.AfterFunc(delay, func() { f(args) })
+	timer := clock.AfterFunc(delay, func() { f(args) })
 	return &TimedWorker{
 		WorkItem:  args,
 		CreatedAt: createdAt,
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ type TimedWorkerQueue struct {
 	// map of workers keyed by string returned by 'KeyFromWorkArgs' from the given worker.
 	workers  map[string]*TimedWorker
 	workFunc func(args *WorkArgs) error
+	clock    clock.Clock
 }
 
 // CreateWorkerQueue creates a new TimedWorkerQueue for workers that will execute
@@ -85,6 +87,7 @@ func CreateWorkerQueue(f func(args *WorkArgs) error) *TimedWorkerQueue {
 	return &TimedWorkerQueue{
 		workers:  make(map[string]*TimedWorker),
 		workFunc: f,
+		clock:    clock.RealClock{},
 	}
 }
 
@@ -115,7 +118,7 @@ func (q *TimedWorkerQueue) AddWork(args *WorkArgs, createdAt time.Time, fireAt t
 		klog.Warningf("Trying to add already existing work for %+v. Skipping.", args)
 		return
 	}
-	worker := CreateWorker(args, createdAt, fireAt, q.getWrappedWorkerFunc(key))
+	worker := createWorker(args, createdAt, fireAt, q.getWrappedWorkerFunc(key), q.clock)
 	q.workers[key] = worker
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/controller/nodelifecycle/scheduler/timed_workers_test.go b/pkg/controller/nodelifecycle/scheduler/timed_workers_test.go
index 0de8a9be5e6..a36f70ec548 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/nodelifecycle/scheduler/timed_workers_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/nodelifecycle/scheduler/timed_workers_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ import (
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
+
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock"
 )
 
 func TestExecute(t *testing.T) {
@@ -62,6 +64,8 @@ func TestExecuteDelayed(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	now := time.Now()
 	then := now.Add(10 * time.Second)
+	fakeClock := clock.NewFakeClock(now)
+	queue.clock = fakeClock
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("1", "1"), now, then)
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("2", "2"), now, then)
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("3", "3"), now, then)
@@ -72,6 +76,7 @@ func TestExecuteDelayed(t *testing.T) {
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("3", "3"), now, then)
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("4", "4"), now, then)
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("5", "5"), now, then)
+	fakeClock.Step(11 * time.Second)
 	wg.Wait()
 	lastVal := atomic.LoadInt32(&testVal)
 	if lastVal != 5 {
@@ -90,6 +95,8 @@ func TestCancel(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	now := time.Now()
 	then := now.Add(10 * time.Second)
+	fakeClock := clock.NewFakeClock(now)
+	queue.clock = fakeClock
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("1", "1"), now, then)
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("2", "2"), now, then)
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("3", "3"), now, then)
@@ -102,6 +109,7 @@ func TestCancel(t *testing.T) {
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("5", "5"), now, then)
 	queue.CancelWork(NewWorkArgs("2", "2").KeyFromWorkArgs())
 	queue.CancelWork(NewWorkArgs("4", "4").KeyFromWorkArgs())
+	fakeClock.Step(11 * time.Second)
 	wg.Wait()
 	lastVal := atomic.LoadInt32(&testVal)
 	if lastVal != 3 {
@@ -120,6 +128,8 @@ func TestCancelAndReadd(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	now := time.Now()
 	then := now.Add(10 * time.Second)
+	fakeClock := clock.NewFakeClock(now)
+	queue.clock = fakeClock
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("1", "1"), now, then)
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("2", "2"), now, then)
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("3", "3"), now, then)
@@ -133,6 +143,7 @@ func TestCancelAndReadd(t *testing.T) {
 	queue.CancelWork(NewWorkArgs("2", "2").KeyFromWorkArgs())
 	queue.CancelWork(NewWorkArgs("4", "4").KeyFromWorkArgs())
 	queue.AddWork(NewWorkArgs("2", "2"), now, then)
+	fakeClock.Step(11 * time.Second)
 	wg.Wait()
 	lastVal := atomic.LoadInt32(&testVal)
 	if lastVal != 4 {
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock/clock.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock/clock.go
index 3e1e2517b42..1a544d3b2e4 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock/clock.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock/clock.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ type PassiveClock interface {
 type Clock interface {
 	PassiveClock
 	After(time.Duration) <-chan time.Time
+	AfterFunc(time.Duration, func()) Timer
 	NewTimer(time.Duration) Timer
 	Sleep(time.Duration)
 	NewTicker(time.Duration) Ticker
@@ -57,6 +58,13 @@ func (RealClock) After(d time.Duration) <-chan time.Time {
 	return time.After(d)
 }
 
+// AfterFunc is the same as time.AfterFunc(d, f).
+func (RealClock) AfterFunc(d time.Duration, f func()) Timer {
+	return &realTimer{
+		timer: time.AfterFunc(d, f),
+	}
+}
+
 // NewTimer returns a new Timer.
 func (RealClock) NewTimer(d time.Duration) Timer {
 	return &realTimer{
@@ -95,6 +103,7 @@ type fakeClockWaiter struct {
 	stepInterval  time.Duration
 	skipIfBlocked bool
 	destChan      chan time.Time
+	afterFunc     func()
 }
 
 // NewFakePassiveClock returns a new FakePassiveClock.
@@ -145,6 +154,25 @@ func (f *FakeClock) After(d time.Duration) <-chan time.Time {
 	return ch
 }
 
+// AfterFunc is the Fake version of time.AfterFunc(d, callback).
+func (f *FakeClock) AfterFunc(d time.Duration, cb func()) Timer {
+	f.lock.Lock()
+	defer f.lock.Unlock()
+	stopTime := f.time.Add(d)
+	ch := make(chan time.Time, 1) // Don't block!
+
+	timer := &fakeTimer{
+		fakeClock: f,
+		waiter: fakeClockWaiter{
+			targetTime: stopTime,
+			destChan:   ch,
+			afterFunc:  cb,
+		},
+	}
+	f.waiters = append(f.waiters, timer.waiter)
+	return timer
+}
+
 // NewTimer is the Fake version of time.NewTimer(d).
 func (f *FakeClock) NewTimer(d time.Duration) Timer {
 	f.lock.Lock()
@@ -211,6 +239,10 @@ func (f *FakeClock) setTimeLocked(t time.Time) {
 				w.destChan <- t
 			}
 
+			if w.afterFunc != nil {
+				w.afterFunc()
+			}
+
 			if w.stepInterval > 0 {
 				for !w.targetTime.After(t) {
 					w.targetTime = w.targetTime.Add(w.stepInterval)
@@ -225,8 +257,8 @@ func (f *FakeClock) setTimeLocked(t time.Time) {
 	f.waiters = newWaiters
 }
 
-// HasWaiters returns true if After has been called on f but not yet satisfied (so you can
-// write race-free tests).
+// HasWaiters returns true if After or AfterFunc has been called on f but not yet satisfied
+// (so you can write race-free tests).
 func (f *FakeClock) HasWaiters() bool {
 	f.lock.RLock()
 	defer f.lock.RUnlock()
@@ -261,6 +293,12 @@ func (*IntervalClock) After(d time.Duration) <-chan time.Time {
 	panic("IntervalClock doesn't implement After")
 }
 
+// AfterFunc is currently unimplemented, will panic.
+// TODO: make interval clock use FakeClock so this can be implemented.
+func (*IntervalClock) AfterFunc(d time.Duration, cb func()) Timer {
+	panic("IntervalClock doesn't implement AfterFunc")
+}
+
 // NewTimer is currently unimplemented, will panic.
 // TODO: make interval clock use FakeClock so this can be implemented.
 func (*IntervalClock) NewTimer(d time.Duration) Timer {
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock/clock_test.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock/clock_test.go
index 04870743ffc..700d15ee541 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock/clock_test.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/clock/clock_test.go
@@ -147,6 +147,66 @@ func TestFakeAfter(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestFakeAfterFunc(t *testing.T) {
+	tc := NewFakeClock(time.Now())
+	if tc.HasWaiters() {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected waiter?")
+	}
+	expectOneSecTimerFire := false
+	oneSecTimerFire := 0
+	tc.AfterFunc(time.Second, func() {
+		if !expectOneSecTimerFire {
+			t.Errorf("oneSecTimer func fired")
+		} else {
+			oneSecTimerFire++
+		}
+	})
+	if !tc.HasWaiters() {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected lack of waiter?")
+	}
+
+	expectOneOhOneSecTimerFire := false
+	oneOhOneSecTimerFire := 0
+	tc.AfterFunc(time.Second+time.Millisecond, func() {
+		if !expectOneOhOneSecTimerFire {
+			t.Errorf("oneOhOneSecTimer func fired")
+		} else {
+			oneOhOneSecTimerFire++
+		}
+	})
+
+	expectTwoSecTimerFire := false
+	twoSecTimerFire := 0
+	twoSecTimer := tc.AfterFunc(2*time.Second, func() {
+		if !expectTwoSecTimerFire {
+			t.Errorf("twoSecTimer func fired")
+		} else {
+			twoSecTimerFire++
+		}
+	})
+
+	tc.Step(999 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	expectOneSecTimerFire = true
+	tc.Step(time.Millisecond)
+	if oneSecTimerFire != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("expected oneSecTimerFire=1, got %d", oneSecTimerFire)
+	}
+	expectOneSecTimerFire = false
+
+	expectOneOhOneSecTimerFire = true
+	tc.Step(time.Millisecond)
+	if oneOhOneSecTimerFire != 1 {
+		// should not double-trigger!
+		t.Errorf("expected oneOhOneSecTimerFire=1, got %d", oneOhOneSecTimerFire)
+	}
+	expectOneOhOneSecTimerFire = false
+
+	// ensure a canceled timer doesn't fire
+	twoSecTimer.Stop()
+	tc.Step(time.Second)
+}
+
 func TestFakeTimer(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := NewFakeClock(time.Now())
 	if tc.HasWaiters() {