diff --git a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/config/config.go b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/config/config.go
index d3125b4a512..c5ae3348370 100644
--- a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/config/config.go
+++ b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/config/config.go
@@ -40,9 +40,6 @@ type Config struct {
 	// the general kube client
 	Client *clientset.Clientset
 
-	// the client only used for leader election
-	LeaderElectionClient *clientset.Clientset
-
 	// the rest config for the master
 	Kubeconfig *restclient.Config
 
diff --git a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go
index 5bc022dd2f0..75153576a0b 100644
--- a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go
+++ b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go
@@ -270,15 +270,15 @@ func Run(c *config.CompletedConfig, stopCh <-chan struct{}) error {
 	// add a uniquifier so that two processes on the same host don't accidentally both become active
 	id = id + "_" + string(uuid.NewUUID())
 
-	rl, err := resourcelock.New(c.ComponentConfig.Generic.LeaderElection.ResourceLock,
+	rl, err := resourcelock.NewFromKubeconfig(c.ComponentConfig.Generic.LeaderElection.ResourceLock,
 		c.ComponentConfig.Generic.LeaderElection.ResourceNamespace,
 		c.ComponentConfig.Generic.LeaderElection.ResourceName,
-		c.LeaderElectionClient.CoreV1(),
-		c.LeaderElectionClient.CoordinationV1(),
 		resourcelock.ResourceLockConfig{
 			Identity:      id,
 			EventRecorder: c.EventRecorder,
-		})
+		},
+		c.Kubeconfig,
+		c.ComponentConfig.Generic.LeaderElection.RenewDeadline.Duration)
 	if err != nil {
 		klog.Fatalf("error creating lock: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/options/options.go b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/options/options.go
index d0475bd0c20..bbc03b8674e 100644
--- a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/options/options.go
+++ b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/options/options.go
@@ -441,18 +441,12 @@ func (s KubeControllerManagerOptions) Config(allControllers []string, disabledBy
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// shallow copy, do not modify the kubeconfig.Timeout.
-	config := *kubeconfig
-	config.Timeout = s.Generic.LeaderElection.RenewDeadline.Duration
-	leaderElectionClient := clientset.NewForConfigOrDie(restclient.AddUserAgent(&config, "leader-election"))
-
 	eventRecorder := createRecorder(client, KubeControllerManagerUserAgent)
 
 	c := &kubecontrollerconfig.Config{
-		Client:               client,
-		Kubeconfig:           kubeconfig,
-		EventRecorder:        eventRecorder,
-		LeaderElectionClient: leaderElectionClient,
+		Client:        client,
+		Kubeconfig:    kubeconfig,
+		EventRecorder: eventRecorder,
 	}
 	if err := s.ApplyTo(c); err != nil {
 		return nil, err