diff --git a/pkg/controller/volume/persistentvolume/pv_controller.go b/pkg/controller/volume/persistentvolume/pv_controller.go
index 13d7a875e8d..e37b0cd07c3 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/volume/persistentvolume/pv_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/volume/persistentvolume/pv_controller.go
@@ -1127,7 +1127,19 @@ func (ctrl *PersistentVolumeController) recycleVolumeOperation(volume *v1.Persis
 		klog.V(3).Infof("can't recycle volume %q: %v", volume.Name, err)
 		return
 	}
-	if used {
+
+	// Verify the claim is in cache: if so, then it is a different PVC with the same name
+	// since the volume is known to be released at this moment. Ths new (cached) PVC must use
+	// a different PV -- we checked that the PV is unused in isVolumeReleased.
+	// So the old PV is safe to be recycled.
+	claimName := claimrefToClaimKey(volume.Spec.ClaimRef)
+	_, claimCached, err := ctrl.claims.GetByKey(claimName)
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.V(3).Infof("error getting the claim %s from cache", claimName)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if used && !claimCached {
 		msg := fmt.Sprintf("Volume is used by pods: %s", strings.Join(pods, ","))
 		klog.V(3).Infof("can't recycle volume %q: %s", volume.Name, msg)
 		ctrl.eventRecorder.Event(volume, v1.EventTypeNormal, events.VolumeFailedRecycle, msg)
diff --git a/pkg/controller/volume/persistentvolume/recycle_test.go b/pkg/controller/volume/persistentvolume/recycle_test.go
index 73426c44046..f0c0f7dcba9 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/volume/persistentvolume/recycle_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/volume/persistentvolume/recycle_test.go
@@ -229,6 +229,16 @@ func TestRecycleSync(t *testing.T) {
 			// recycler simulates one recycle() call that succeeds.
 			wrapTestWithReclaimCalls(operationRecycle, []error{nil}, testSyncVolume),
 		},
+		{
+			// volume is used by a completed pod, pod using claim with the same name bound to different pv is running, should recycle
+			"6-14 - seemingly used by running pod",
+			newVolumeArray("volume6-14", "1Gi", "uid6-14", "completedClaim", v1.VolumeBound, v1.PersistentVolumeReclaimRecycle, classEmpty, annBoundByController),
+			newVolumeArray("volume6-14", "1Gi", "", "", v1.VolumeAvailable, v1.PersistentVolumeReclaimRecycle, classEmpty),
+			newClaimArray("completedClaim", "uid6-14-x", "10Gi", "", v1.ClaimBound, nil),
+			newClaimArray("completedClaim", "uid6-14-x", "10Gi", "", v1.ClaimBound, nil),
+			noevents, noerrors,
+			wrapTestWithReclaimCalls(operationRecycle, []error{nil}, testSyncVolume),
+		},
 	}
 	runSyncTests(t, tests, []*storage.StorageClass{}, pods)
 }