diff --git a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go
index e26ce810c8c..6d6ddffb51b 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go
@@ -326,12 +326,8 @@ func (rsc *ReplicaSetController) updatePod(old, cur interface{}) {
 	}
 	curPod := cur.(*api.Pod)
 	oldPod := old.(*api.Pod)
-	glog.V(4).Infof("Pod %s updated %+v -> %+v.", curPod.Name, oldPod, curPod)
-	rs := rsc.getPodReplicaSet(curPod)
-	if rs == nil {
-		return
-	}
-
+	glog.V(4).Infof("Pod %s updated, objectMeta %+v -> %+v.", curPod.Name, oldPod.ObjectMeta, curPod.ObjectMeta)
+	labelChanged := !reflect.DeepEqual(curPod.Labels, oldPod.Labels)
 	if curPod.DeletionTimestamp != nil {
 		// when a pod is deleted gracefully it's deletion timestamp is first modified to reflect a grace period,
 		// and after such time has passed, the kubelet actually deletes it from the store. We receive an update
@@ -339,11 +335,17 @@ func (rsc *ReplicaSetController) updatePod(old, cur interface{}) {
 		// until the kubelet actually deletes the pod. This is different from the Phase of a pod changing, because
 		// an rs never initiates a phase change, and so is never asleep waiting for the same.
 		rsc.deletePod(curPod)
+		if labelChanged {
+			// we don't need to check the oldPod.DeletionTimestamp because DeletionTimestamp cannot be unset.
+			rsc.deletePod(oldPod)
+		}
 		return
 	}
 
-	rsc.enqueueReplicaSet(rs)
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(curPod.Labels, oldPod.Labels) {
+	if rs := rsc.getPodReplicaSet(curPod); rs != nil {
+		rsc.enqueueReplicaSet(rs)
+	}
+	if labelChanged {
 		// If the old and new ReplicaSet are the same, the first one that syncs
 		// will set expectations preventing any damage from the second.
 		if oldRS := rsc.getPodReplicaSet(oldPod); oldRS != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go
index d8324ebb0a8..fbdfc497fbe 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go
@@ -547,15 +547,13 @@ func TestUpdatePods(t *testing.T) {
 	testRSSpec2.Name = "barfoo"
 	manager.rsStore.Store.Add(&testRSSpec2)
 
-	// Put one pod in the podStore
+	// case 1: We put in the podStore a pod with labels matching testRSSpec1,
+	// then update its labels to match testRSSpec2.  We expect to receive a sync
+	// request for both replica sets.
 	pod1 := newPodList(manager.podStore.Indexer, 1, api.PodRunning, labelMap1, testRSSpec1, "pod").Items[0]
 	pod2 := pod1
 	pod2.Labels = labelMap2
-
-	// Send an update of the same pod with modified labels, and confirm we get a sync request for
-	// both controllers
 	manager.updatePod(&pod1, &pod2)
-
 	expected := sets.NewString(testRSSpec1.Name, testRSSpec2.Name)
 	for _, name := range expected.List() {
 		t.Logf("Expecting update for %+v", name)
@@ -568,6 +566,24 @@ func TestUpdatePods(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("Expected update notifications for replica sets within 100ms each")
 		}
 	}
+
+	// case 2: pod1 in the podStore has labels matching testRSSpec1. We update
+	// its labels to match no replica set. We expect to receive a sync request
+	// for testRSSpec1.
+	pod2.Labels = make(map[string]string)
+	manager.updatePod(&pod1, &pod2)
+	expected = sets.NewString(testRSSpec1.Name)
+	for _, name := range expected.List() {
+		t.Logf("Expecting update for %+v", name)
+		select {
+		case got := <-received:
+			if !expected.Has(got) {
+				t.Errorf("Expected keys %#v got %v", expected, got)
+			}
+		case <-time.After(wait.ForeverTestTimeout):
+			t.Errorf("Expected update notifications for replica sets within 100ms each")
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func TestControllerUpdateRequeue(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
index 6fda7ce8969..2b8406a1219 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
@@ -353,12 +353,9 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) updatePod(old, cur interface{}) {
 		return
 	}
 	curPod := cur.(*api.Pod)
-	rc := rm.getPodController(curPod)
-	if rc == nil {
-		return
-	}
 	oldPod := old.(*api.Pod)
-
+	glog.V(4).Infof("Pod %s updated, objectMeta %+v -> %+v.", curPod.Name, oldPod.ObjectMeta, curPod.ObjectMeta)
+	labelChanged := !reflect.DeepEqual(curPod.Labels, oldPod.Labels)
 	if curPod.DeletionTimestamp != nil {
 		// when a pod is deleted gracefully it's deletion timestamp is first modified to reflect a grace period,
 		// and after such time has passed, the kubelet actually deletes it from the store. We receive an update
@@ -366,11 +363,18 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) updatePod(old, cur interface{}) {
 		// until the kubelet actually deletes the pod. This is different from the Phase of a pod changing, because
 		// an rc never initiates a phase change, and so is never asleep waiting for the same.
 		rm.deletePod(curPod)
+		if labelChanged {
+			// we don't need to check the oldPod.DeletionTimestamp because DeletionTimestamp cannot be unset.
+			rm.deletePod(oldPod)
+		}
 		return
 	}
-	rm.enqueueController(rc)
+
+	if rc := rm.getPodController(curPod); rc != nil {
+		rm.enqueueController(rc)
+	}
 	// Only need to get the old controller if the labels changed.
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(curPod.Labels, oldPod.Labels) {
+	if labelChanged {
 		// If the old and new rc are the same, the first one that syncs
 		// will set expectations preventing any damage from the second.
 		if oldRC := rm.getPodController(oldPod); oldRC != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go
index 376e5a4b9c9..52254f27074 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go
@@ -531,15 +531,13 @@ func TestUpdatePods(t *testing.T) {
 	testControllerSpec2.Name = "barfoo"
 	manager.rcStore.Indexer.Add(&testControllerSpec2)
 
-	// Put one pod in the podStore
+	// case 1: We put in the podStore a pod with labels matching
+	// testControllerSpec1, then update its labels to match testControllerSpec2.
+	// We expect to receive a sync request for both controllers.
 	pod1 := newPodList(manager.podStore.Indexer, 1, api.PodRunning, testControllerSpec1, "pod").Items[0]
 	pod2 := pod1
 	pod2.Labels = testControllerSpec2.Spec.Selector
-
-	// Send an update of the same pod with modified labels, and confirm we get a sync request for
-	// both controllers
 	manager.updatePod(&pod1, &pod2)
-
 	expected := sets.NewString(testControllerSpec1.Name, testControllerSpec2.Name)
 	for _, name := range expected.List() {
 		t.Logf("Expecting update for %+v", name)
@@ -552,6 +550,24 @@ func TestUpdatePods(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("Expected update notifications for controllers within 100ms each")
 		}
 	}
+
+	// case 2: pod1 in the podStore has labels matching testControllerSpec1.
+	// We update its labels to match no replication controller.  We expect to
+	// receive a sync request for testControllerSpec1.
+	pod2.Labels = make(map[string]string)
+	manager.updatePod(&pod1, &pod2)
+	expected = sets.NewString(testControllerSpec1.Name)
+	for _, name := range expected.List() {
+		t.Logf("Expecting update for %+v", name)
+		select {
+		case got := <-received:
+			if !expected.Has(got) {
+				t.Errorf("Expected keys %#v got %v", expected, got)
+			}
+		case <-time.After(wait.ForeverTestTimeout):
+			t.Errorf("Expected update notifications for controllers within 100ms each")
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func TestControllerUpdateRequeue(t *testing.T) {