diff --git a/pkg/controller/cloud/pvlcontroller.go b/pkg/controller/cloud/pvlcontroller.go
index 3ae1fbf6bc9..a567643bfdd 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/cloud/pvlcontroller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/cloud/pvlcontroller.go
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func (pvlc *PersistentVolumeLabelController) addLabels(key string) error {
 
 func (pvlc *PersistentVolumeLabelController) addLabelsToVolume(vol *v1.PersistentVolume) error {
 	var volumeLabels map[string]string
-	// Only add labels if in the list of initializers
+	// Only add labels if the next pending initializer.
 	if needsInitialization(vol.Initializers, initializerName) {
 		if labeler, ok := (pvlc.cloud).(cloudprovider.PVLabeler); ok {
 			labels, err := labeler.GetLabelsForVolume(vol)
@@ -265,16 +265,17 @@ func removeInitializer(initializers *metav1.Initializers, name string) *metav1.I
 	return &metav1.Initializers{Pending: updated}
 }
 
+// needsInitialization checks whether or not the PVL is the next pending initializer.
 func needsInitialization(initializers *metav1.Initializers, name string) bool {
-	hasInitializer := false
-
-	if initializers != nil {
-		for _, pending := range initializers.Pending {
-			if pending.Name == name {
-				hasInitializer = true
-				break
-			}
-		}
+	if initializers == nil {
+		return false
 	}
-	return hasInitializer
+
+	if len(initializers.Pending) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// There is at least one initializer still pending so check to
+	// see if the PVL is the next in line.
+	return initializers.Pending[0].Name == name
 }
diff --git a/pkg/controller/cloud/pvlcontroller_test.go b/pkg/controller/cloud/pvlcontroller_test.go
index 48b079122c5..2ab2f11394d 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/cloud/pvlcontroller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/cloud/pvlcontroller_test.go
@@ -146,11 +146,16 @@ func TestAddLabelsToVolume(t *testing.T) {
 			initializers: &metav1.Initializers{Pending: []metav1.Initializer{{Name: initializerName}}},
 			shouldLabel:  true,
 		},
-		"PV with other initializers": {
+		"PV with other initializers only": {
 			vol:          pv,
 			initializers: &metav1.Initializers{Pending: []metav1.Initializer{{Name: "OtherInit"}}},
 			shouldLabel:  false,
 		},
+		"PV with other initializers first": {
+			vol:          pv,
+			initializers: &metav1.Initializers{Pending: []metav1.Initializer{{Name: "OtherInit"}, {Name: initializerName}}},
+			shouldLabel:  false,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for d, tc := range testCases {