diff --git a/pkg/api/pod/util.go b/pkg/api/pod/util.go
index 621438091b2..e03ca7fc094 100644
--- a/pkg/api/pod/util.go
+++ b/pkg/api/pod/util.go
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ func GetValidationOptionsFromPodSpecAndMeta(podSpec, oldPodSpec *api.PodSpec, po
 			}
 		}
 
-		opts.AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue = opts.AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue || podLifecycleSleepActionZeroValueInUse(podSpec)
+		opts.AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue = opts.AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue || podLifecycleSleepActionZeroValueInUse(oldPodSpec)
 		// If oldPod has resize policy set on the restartable init container, we must allow it
 		opts.AllowSidecarResizePolicy = hasRestartableInitContainerResizePolicy(oldPodSpec)
 	}
@@ -772,7 +772,7 @@ func podLifecycleSleepActionZeroValueInUse(podSpec *api.PodSpec) bool {
 			inUse = true
 			return false
 		}
-		if c.Lifecycle.PostStart != nil && c.Lifecycle.PostStart.Sleep != nil && c.Lifecycle.PreStop.Sleep.Seconds == 0 {
+		if c.Lifecycle.PostStart != nil && c.Lifecycle.PostStart.Sleep != nil && c.Lifecycle.PostStart.Sleep.Seconds == 0 {
 			inUse = true
 			return false
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/api/pod/util_test.go b/pkg/api/pod/util_test.go
index 2f53c8fdc6e..23ffb061268 100644
--- a/pkg/api/pod/util_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/pod/util_test.go
@@ -4204,3 +4204,92 @@ func TestValidateAllowSidecarResizePolicy(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestValidateAllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := []struct {
+		name                                        string
+		podSpec                                     *api.PodSpec
+		expectAllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "no lifecycle hooks",
+			podSpec: &api.PodSpec{},
+			expectAllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "Prestop with non-zero second duration",
+			podSpec: &api.PodSpec{
+				Containers: []api.Container{
+					{
+						Lifecycle: &api.Lifecycle{
+							PreStop: &api.LifecycleHandler{
+								Sleep: &api.SleepAction{
+									Seconds: 1,
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expectAllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "PostStart with non-zero second duration",
+			podSpec: &api.PodSpec{
+				Containers: []api.Container{
+					{
+						Lifecycle: &api.Lifecycle{
+							PostStart: &api.LifecycleHandler{
+								Sleep: &api.SleepAction{
+									Seconds: 1,
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expectAllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "PreStop with zero seconds",
+			podSpec: &api.PodSpec{
+				Containers: []api.Container{
+					{
+						Lifecycle: &api.Lifecycle{
+							PreStop: &api.LifecycleHandler{
+								Sleep: &api.SleepAction{
+									Seconds: 0,
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expectAllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "PostStart with zero seconds",
+			podSpec: &api.PodSpec{
+				Containers: []api.Container{
+					{
+						Lifecycle: &api.Lifecycle{
+							PostStart: &api.LifecycleHandler{
+								Sleep: &api.SleepAction{
+									Seconds: 0,
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expectAllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			gotOptions := GetValidationOptionsFromPodSpecAndMeta(&api.PodSpec{}, tc.podSpec, nil, nil)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.expectAllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue, gotOptions.AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue, "AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue")
+		})
+	}
+}