diff --git a/pkg/api/pod/util.go b/pkg/api/pod/util.go
index 2e425c93cd5..084e12b3bf0 100644
--- a/pkg/api/pod/util.go
+++ b/pkg/api/pod/util.go
@@ -385,6 +385,7 @@ func GetValidationOptionsFromPodSpecAndMeta(podSpec, oldPodSpec *api.PodSpec, po
 		AllowInvalidTopologySpreadConstraintLabelSelector: false,
 		AllowNamespacedSysctlsForHostNetAndHostIPC:        false,
 		AllowNonLocalProjectedTokenPath:                   false,
+		AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue:             utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.PodLifecycleSleepActionAllowZero),
 	}
 
 	// If old spec uses relaxed validation or enabled the RelaxedEnvironmentVariableValidation feature gate,
@@ -415,6 +416,8 @@ func GetValidationOptionsFromPodSpecAndMeta(podSpec, oldPodSpec *api.PodSpec, po
 				}
 			}
 		}
+
+		opts.AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue = opts.AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue || podLifecycleSleepActionZeroValueInUse(podSpec)
 	}
 	if oldPodMeta != nil && !opts.AllowInvalidPodDeletionCost {
 		// This is an update, so validate only if the existing object was valid.
@@ -795,6 +798,28 @@ func podLifecycleSleepActionInUse(podSpec *api.PodSpec) bool {
 	return inUse
 }
 
+func podLifecycleSleepActionZeroValueInUse(podSpec *api.PodSpec) bool {
+	if podSpec == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	var inUse bool
+	VisitContainers(podSpec, AllContainers, func(c *api.Container, containerType ContainerType) bool {
+		if c.Lifecycle == nil {
+			return true
+		}
+		if c.Lifecycle.PreStop != nil && c.Lifecycle.PreStop.Sleep != nil && c.Lifecycle.PreStop.Sleep.Seconds == 0 {
+			inUse = true
+			return false
+		}
+		if c.Lifecycle.PostStart != nil && c.Lifecycle.PostStart.Sleep != nil && c.Lifecycle.PreStop.Sleep.Seconds == 0 {
+			inUse = true
+			return false
+		}
+		return true
+	})
+	return inUse
+}
+
 // dropDisabledPodStatusFields removes disabled fields from the pod status
 func dropDisabledPodStatusFields(podStatus, oldPodStatus *api.PodStatus, podSpec, oldPodSpec *api.PodSpec) {
 	// the new status is always be non-nil
diff --git a/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation.go b/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation.go
index 34e3002155f..3cb76ab2624 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation.go
@@ -3068,52 +3068,52 @@ func validatePodResourceClaim(podMeta *metav1.ObjectMeta, claim core.PodResource
 	return allErrs
 }
 
-func validateLivenessProbe(probe *core.Probe, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path) field.ErrorList {
+func validateLivenessProbe(probe *core.Probe, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path, opts PodValidationOptions) field.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := field.ErrorList{}
 
 	if probe == nil {
 		return allErrs
 	}
-	allErrs = append(allErrs, validateProbe(probe, gracePeriod, fldPath)...)
+	allErrs = append(allErrs, validateProbe(probe, gracePeriod, fldPath, opts)...)
 	if probe.SuccessThreshold != 1 {
 		allErrs = append(allErrs, field.Invalid(fldPath.Child("successThreshold"), probe.SuccessThreshold, "must be 1"))
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
 
-func validateReadinessProbe(probe *core.Probe, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path) field.ErrorList {
+func validateReadinessProbe(probe *core.Probe, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path, opts PodValidationOptions) field.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := field.ErrorList{}
 
 	if probe == nil {
 		return allErrs
 	}
-	allErrs = append(allErrs, validateProbe(probe, gracePeriod, fldPath)...)
+	allErrs = append(allErrs, validateProbe(probe, gracePeriod, fldPath, opts)...)
 	if probe.TerminationGracePeriodSeconds != nil {
 		allErrs = append(allErrs, field.Invalid(fldPath.Child("terminationGracePeriodSeconds"), probe.TerminationGracePeriodSeconds, "must not be set for readinessProbes"))
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
 
-func validateStartupProbe(probe *core.Probe, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path) field.ErrorList {
+func validateStartupProbe(probe *core.Probe, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path, opts PodValidationOptions) field.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := field.ErrorList{}
 
 	if probe == nil {
 		return allErrs
 	}
-	allErrs = append(allErrs, validateProbe(probe, gracePeriod, fldPath)...)
+	allErrs = append(allErrs, validateProbe(probe, gracePeriod, fldPath, opts)...)
 	if probe.SuccessThreshold != 1 {
 		allErrs = append(allErrs, field.Invalid(fldPath.Child("successThreshold"), probe.SuccessThreshold, "must be 1"))
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
 
-func validateProbe(probe *core.Probe, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path) field.ErrorList {
+func validateProbe(probe *core.Probe, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path, opts PodValidationOptions) field.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := field.ErrorList{}
 
 	if probe == nil {
 		return allErrs
 	}
-	allErrs = append(allErrs, validateHandler(handlerFromProbe(&probe.ProbeHandler), gracePeriod, fldPath)...)
+	allErrs = append(allErrs, validateHandler(handlerFromProbe(&probe.ProbeHandler), gracePeriod, fldPath, opts)...)
 
 	allErrs = append(allErrs, ValidateNonnegativeField(int64(probe.InitialDelaySeconds), fldPath.Child("initialDelaySeconds"))...)
 	allErrs = append(allErrs, ValidateNonnegativeField(int64(probe.TimeoutSeconds), fldPath.Child("timeoutSeconds"))...)
@@ -3169,14 +3169,21 @@ func handlerFromLifecycle(lh *core.LifecycleHandler) commonHandler {
 	}
 }
 
-func validateSleepAction(sleep *core.SleepAction, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path) field.ErrorList {
+func validateSleepAction(sleep *core.SleepAction, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path, opts PodValidationOptions) field.ErrorList {
 	allErrors := field.ErrorList{}
 	// We allow gracePeriod to be nil here because the pod in which this SleepAction
 	// is defined might have an invalid grace period defined, and we don't want to
 	// flag another error here when the real problem will already be flagged.
-	if gracePeriod != nil && sleep.Seconds <= 0 || sleep.Seconds > *gracePeriod {
-		invalidStr := fmt.Sprintf("must be greater than 0 and less than terminationGracePeriodSeconds (%d)", *gracePeriod)
-		allErrors = append(allErrors, field.Invalid(fldPath, sleep.Seconds, invalidStr))
+	if opts.AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue {
+		if gracePeriod != nil && (sleep.Seconds < 0 || sleep.Seconds > *gracePeriod) {
+			invalidStr := fmt.Sprintf("must be non-negative and less than terminationGracePeriodSeconds (%d)", *gracePeriod)
+			allErrors = append(allErrors, field.Invalid(fldPath, sleep.Seconds, invalidStr))
+		}
+	} else {
+		if gracePeriod != nil && (sleep.Seconds <= 0 || sleep.Seconds > *gracePeriod) {
+			invalidStr := fmt.Sprintf("must be greater than 0 and less than terminationGracePeriodSeconds (%d). Enable AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue feature gate for zero sleep.", *gracePeriod)
+			allErrors = append(allErrors, field.Invalid(fldPath, sleep.Seconds, invalidStr))
+		}
 	}
 	return allErrors
 }
@@ -3289,7 +3296,7 @@ func validateTCPSocketAction(tcp *core.TCPSocketAction, fldPath *field.Path) fie
 func validateGRPCAction(grpc *core.GRPCAction, fldPath *field.Path) field.ErrorList {
 	return ValidatePortNumOrName(intstr.FromInt32(grpc.Port), fldPath.Child("port"))
 }
-func validateHandler(handler commonHandler, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path) field.ErrorList {
+func validateHandler(handler commonHandler, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path, opts PodValidationOptions) field.ErrorList {
 	numHandlers := 0
 	allErrors := field.ErrorList{}
 	if handler.Exec != nil {
@@ -3329,7 +3336,7 @@ func validateHandler(handler commonHandler, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.P
 			allErrors = append(allErrors, field.Forbidden(fldPath.Child("sleep"), "may not specify more than 1 handler type"))
 		} else {
 			numHandlers++
-			allErrors = append(allErrors, validateSleepAction(handler.Sleep, gracePeriod, fldPath.Child("sleep"))...)
+			allErrors = append(allErrors, validateSleepAction(handler.Sleep, gracePeriod, fldPath.Child("sleep"), opts)...)
 		}
 	}
 	if numHandlers == 0 {
@@ -3338,13 +3345,13 @@ func validateHandler(handler commonHandler, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.P
 	return allErrors
 }
 
-func validateLifecycle(lifecycle *core.Lifecycle, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path) field.ErrorList {
+func validateLifecycle(lifecycle *core.Lifecycle, gracePeriod *int64, fldPath *field.Path, opts PodValidationOptions) field.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := field.ErrorList{}
 	if lifecycle.PostStart != nil {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateHandler(handlerFromLifecycle(lifecycle.PostStart), gracePeriod, fldPath.Child("postStart"))...)
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateHandler(handlerFromLifecycle(lifecycle.PostStart), gracePeriod, fldPath.Child("postStart"), opts)...)
 	}
 	if lifecycle.PreStop != nil {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateHandler(handlerFromLifecycle(lifecycle.PreStop), gracePeriod, fldPath.Child("preStop"))...)
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateHandler(handlerFromLifecycle(lifecycle.PreStop), gracePeriod, fldPath.Child("preStop"), opts)...)
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
@@ -3523,11 +3530,11 @@ func validateInitContainers(containers []core.Container, regularContainers []cor
 		switch {
 		case restartAlways:
 			if ctr.Lifecycle != nil {
-				allErrs = append(allErrs, validateLifecycle(ctr.Lifecycle, gracePeriod, idxPath.Child("lifecycle"))...)
+				allErrs = append(allErrs, validateLifecycle(ctr.Lifecycle, gracePeriod, idxPath.Child("lifecycle"), opts)...)
 			}
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, validateLivenessProbe(ctr.LivenessProbe, gracePeriod, idxPath.Child("livenessProbe"))...)
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, validateReadinessProbe(ctr.ReadinessProbe, gracePeriod, idxPath.Child("readinessProbe"))...)
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, validateStartupProbe(ctr.StartupProbe, gracePeriod, idxPath.Child("startupProbe"))...)
+			allErrs = append(allErrs, validateLivenessProbe(ctr.LivenessProbe, gracePeriod, idxPath.Child("livenessProbe"), opts)...)
+			allErrs = append(allErrs, validateReadinessProbe(ctr.ReadinessProbe, gracePeriod, idxPath.Child("readinessProbe"), opts)...)
+			allErrs = append(allErrs, validateStartupProbe(ctr.StartupProbe, gracePeriod, idxPath.Child("startupProbe"), opts)...)
 
 		default:
 			// These fields are disallowed for init containers.
@@ -3655,11 +3662,11 @@ func validateContainers(containers []core.Container, volumes map[string]core.Vol
 		// Regular init container and ephemeral container validation will return
 		// field.Forbidden() for these paths.
 		if ctr.Lifecycle != nil {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, validateLifecycle(ctr.Lifecycle, gracePeriod, path.Child("lifecycle"))...)
+			allErrs = append(allErrs, validateLifecycle(ctr.Lifecycle, gracePeriod, path.Child("lifecycle"), opts)...)
 		}
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateLivenessProbe(ctr.LivenessProbe, gracePeriod, path.Child("livenessProbe"))...)
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateReadinessProbe(ctr.ReadinessProbe, gracePeriod, path.Child("readinessProbe"))...)
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateStartupProbe(ctr.StartupProbe, gracePeriod, path.Child("startupProbe"))...)
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateLivenessProbe(ctr.LivenessProbe, gracePeriod, path.Child("livenessProbe"), opts)...)
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateReadinessProbe(ctr.ReadinessProbe, gracePeriod, path.Child("readinessProbe"), opts)...)
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateStartupProbe(ctr.StartupProbe, gracePeriod, path.Child("startupProbe"), opts)...)
 
 		// These fields are disallowed for regular containers
 		if ctr.RestartPolicy != nil {
@@ -4049,6 +4056,8 @@ type PodValidationOptions struct {
 	AllowRelaxedEnvironmentVariableValidation bool
 	// Allow the use of a relaxed DNS search
 	AllowRelaxedDNSSearchValidation bool
+	// Allows zero value for Pod Lifecycle Sleep Action
+	AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue bool
 }
 
 // validatePodMetadataAndSpec tests if required fields in the pod.metadata and pod.spec are set,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation_test.go b/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation_test.go
index 0d24d54f0e1..d1649032573 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation_test.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation_test.go
@@ -7445,7 +7445,7 @@ func TestValidateProbe(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, p := range successCases {
-		if errs := validateProbe(p, defaultGracePeriod, field.NewPath("field")); len(errs) != 0 {
+		if errs := validateProbe(p, defaultGracePeriod, field.NewPath("field"), PodValidationOptions{}); len(errs) != 0 {
 			t.Errorf("expected success: %v", errs)
 		}
 	}
@@ -7457,7 +7457,7 @@ func TestValidateProbe(t *testing.T) {
 		errorCases = append(errorCases, probe)
 	}
 	for _, p := range errorCases {
-		if errs := validateProbe(p, defaultGracePeriod, field.NewPath("field")); len(errs) == 0 {
+		if errs := validateProbe(p, defaultGracePeriod, field.NewPath("field"), PodValidationOptions{}); len(errs) == 0 {
 			t.Errorf("expected failure for %v", p)
 		}
 	}
@@ -7563,7 +7563,7 @@ func Test_validateProbe(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			got := validateProbe(tt.args.probe, defaultGracePeriod, tt.args.fldPath)
+			got := validateProbe(tt.args.probe, defaultGracePeriod, tt.args.fldPath, PodValidationOptions{})
 			if len(got) != len(tt.want) {
 				t.Errorf("validateProbe() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
 				return
@@ -7588,7 +7588,7 @@ func TestValidateHandler(t *testing.T) {
 		{HTTPGet: &core.HTTPGetAction{Path: "/", Port: intstr.FromString("port"), Host: "", Scheme: "HTTP", HTTPHeaders: []core.HTTPHeader{{Name: "X-Forwarded-For", Value: "1.2.3.4"}, {Name: "X-Forwarded-For", Value: "5.6.7.8"}}}},
 	}
 	for _, h := range successCases {
-		if errs := validateHandler(handlerFromProbe(&h), defaultGracePeriod, field.NewPath("field")); len(errs) != 0 {
+		if errs := validateHandler(handlerFromProbe(&h), defaultGracePeriod, field.NewPath("field"), PodValidationOptions{}); len(errs) != 0 {
 			t.Errorf("expected success: %v", errs)
 		}
 	}
@@ -7603,7 +7603,7 @@ func TestValidateHandler(t *testing.T) {
 		{HTTPGet: &core.HTTPGetAction{Path: "/", Port: intstr.FromString("port"), Host: "", Scheme: "HTTP", HTTPHeaders: []core.HTTPHeader{{Name: "X_Forwarded_For", Value: "foo.example.com"}}}},
 	}
 	for _, h := range errorCases {
-		if errs := validateHandler(handlerFromProbe(&h), defaultGracePeriod, field.NewPath("field")); len(errs) == 0 {
+		if errs := validateHandler(handlerFromProbe(&h), defaultGracePeriod, field.NewPath("field"), PodValidationOptions{}); len(errs) == 0 {
 			t.Errorf("expected failure for %#v", h)
 		}
 	}
@@ -24162,43 +24162,109 @@ func TestValidateLoadBalancerStatus(t *testing.T) {
 func TestValidateSleepAction(t *testing.T) {
 	fldPath := field.NewPath("root")
 	getInvalidStr := func(gracePeriod int64) string {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("must be greater than 0 and less than terminationGracePeriodSeconds (%d)", gracePeriod)
+		return fmt.Sprintf("must be greater than 0 and less than terminationGracePeriodSeconds (%d). Enable AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue feature gate for zero sleep.", gracePeriod)
+	}
+
+	getInvalidStrWithZeroValueEnabled := func(gracePeriod int64) string {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("must be non-negative and less than terminationGracePeriodSeconds (%d)", gracePeriod)
 	}
 
 	testCases := []struct {
-		name        string
-		action      *core.SleepAction
-		gracePeriod int64
-		expectErr   field.ErrorList
+		name             string
+		action           *core.SleepAction
+		gracePeriod      int64
+		zeroValueEnabled bool
+		expectErr        field.ErrorList
 	}{
 		{
 			name: "valid setting",
 			action: &core.SleepAction{
 				Seconds: 5,
 			},
-			gracePeriod: 30,
+			gracePeriod:      30,
+			zeroValueEnabled: false,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "negative seconds",
 			action: &core.SleepAction{
 				Seconds: -1,
 			},
-			gracePeriod: 30,
-			expectErr:   field.ErrorList{field.Invalid(fldPath, -1, getInvalidStr(30))},
+			gracePeriod:      30,
+			zeroValueEnabled: false,
+			expectErr:        field.ErrorList{field.Invalid(fldPath, -1, getInvalidStr(30))},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "longer than gracePeriod",
 			action: &core.SleepAction{
 				Seconds: 5,
 			},
-			gracePeriod: 3,
-			expectErr:   field.ErrorList{field.Invalid(fldPath, 5, getInvalidStr(3))},
+			gracePeriod:      3,
+			zeroValueEnabled: false,
+			expectErr:        field.ErrorList{field.Invalid(fldPath, 5, getInvalidStr(3))},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "sleep duration of zero with zero value feature gate disabled",
+			action: &core.SleepAction{
+				Seconds: 0,
+			},
+			gracePeriod:      30,
+			zeroValueEnabled: false,
+			expectErr:        field.ErrorList{field.Invalid(fldPath, 0, getInvalidStr(30))},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "sleep duration of zero with zero value feature gate enabled",
+			action: &core.SleepAction{
+				Seconds: 0,
+			},
+			gracePeriod:      30,
+			zeroValueEnabled: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid sleep duration (negative value) with zero value disabled",
+			action: &core.SleepAction{
+				Seconds: -1,
+			},
+			gracePeriod:      30,
+			zeroValueEnabled: false,
+			expectErr:        field.ErrorList{field.Invalid(fldPath, -1, getInvalidStr(30))},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid sleep duration (negative value) with zero value enabled",
+			action: &core.SleepAction{
+				Seconds: -1,
+			},
+			gracePeriod:      30,
+			zeroValueEnabled: true,
+			expectErr:        field.ErrorList{field.Invalid(fldPath, -1, getInvalidStrWithZeroValueEnabled(30))},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "zero grace period duration with zero value enabled",
+			action: &core.SleepAction{
+				Seconds: 0,
+			},
+			gracePeriod:      0,
+			zeroValueEnabled: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "nil grace period with zero value disabled",
+			action: &core.SleepAction{
+				Seconds: 5,
+			},
+			zeroValueEnabled: false,
+			expectErr:        field.ErrorList{field.Invalid(fldPath, 5, getInvalidStr(0))},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "nil grace period with zero value enabled",
+			action: &core.SleepAction{
+				Seconds: 0,
+			},
+			zeroValueEnabled: true,
 		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			errs := validateSleepAction(tc.action, &tc.gracePeriod, fldPath)
+			errs := validateSleepAction(tc.action, &tc.gracePeriod, fldPath, PodValidationOptions{AllowPodLifecycleSleepActionZeroValue: tc.zeroValueEnabled})
 
 			if len(tc.expectErr) > 0 && len(errs) == 0 {
 				t.Errorf("Unexpected success")
diff --git a/pkg/features/kube_features.go b/pkg/features/kube_features.go
index e7296c575bd..69258b83528 100644
--- a/pkg/features/kube_features.go
+++ b/pkg/features/kube_features.go
@@ -477,6 +477,12 @@ const (
 	// Enables SleepAction in container lifecycle hooks
 	PodLifecycleSleepAction featuregate.Feature = "PodLifecycleSleepAction"
 
+	// owner: @sreeram-venkitesh
+	// kep: http://kep.k8s.io/4818
+	//
+	// Allows zero value for sleep duration in SleepAction in container lifecycle hooks
+	PodLifecycleSleepActionAllowZero featuregate.Feature = "PodLifecycleSleepActionAllowZero"
+
 	// owner: @Huang-Wei
 	// kep: https://kep.k8s.io/3521
 	//
diff --git a/pkg/features/versioned_kube_features.go b/pkg/features/versioned_kube_features.go
index 96e1a426417..0ed4bef24fc 100644
--- a/pkg/features/versioned_kube_features.go
+++ b/pkg/features/versioned_kube_features.go
@@ -569,12 +569,13 @@ var defaultVersionedKubernetesFeatureGates = map[featuregate.Feature]featuregate
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.29"), Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.30"), Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Beta},
 	},
-
 	PodReadyToStartContainersCondition: {
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.28"), Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.29"), Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Beta},
 	},
-
+	PodLifecycleSleepActionAllowZero: {
+		{Version: version.MustParse("1.32"), Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
+	},
 	PodSchedulingReadiness: {
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.26"), Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.27"), Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Beta},
diff --git a/test/e2e/common/node/lifecycle_hook.go b/test/e2e/common/node/lifecycle_hook.go
index 0612e216089..a6de625f36b 100644
--- a/test/e2e/common/node/lifecycle_hook.go
+++ b/test/e2e/common/node/lifecycle_hook.go
@@ -547,15 +547,15 @@ func getSidecarPodWithHook(name string, image string, lifecycle *v1.Lifecycle) *
 	}
 }
 
+func validDuration(duration time.Duration, low, high int64) bool {
+	return duration >= time.Second*time.Duration(low) && duration <= time.Second*time.Duration(high)
+}
+
 var _ = SIGDescribe(feature.PodLifecycleSleepAction, func() {
 	f := framework.NewDefaultFramework("pod-lifecycle-sleep-action")
 	f.NamespacePodSecurityLevel = admissionapi.LevelBaseline
 	var podClient *e2epod.PodClient
 
-	validDuration := func(duration time.Duration, low, high int64) bool {
-		return duration >= time.Second*time.Duration(low) && duration <= time.Second*time.Duration(high)
-	}
-
 	ginkgo.Context("when create a pod with lifecycle hook using sleep action", func() {
 		ginkgo.BeforeEach(func(ctx context.Context) {
 			podClient = e2epod.NewPodClient(f)
@@ -629,3 +629,36 @@ var _ = SIGDescribe(feature.PodLifecycleSleepAction, func() {
 
 	})
 })
+
+var _ = SIGDescribe(feature.PodLifecycleSleepActionAllowZero, func() {
+	f := framework.NewDefaultFramework("pod-lifecycle-sleep-action-allow-zero")
+	f.NamespacePodSecurityLevel = admissionapi.LevelBaseline
+	var podClient *e2epod.PodClient
+
+	ginkgo.Context("when create a pod with lifecycle hook using sleep action with a duration of zero seconds", func() {
+		ginkgo.BeforeEach(func(ctx context.Context) {
+			podClient = e2epod.NewPodClient(f)
+		})
+		ginkgo.It("prestop hook using sleep action with zero duration", func(ctx context.Context) {
+			lifecycle := &v1.Lifecycle{
+				PreStop: &v1.LifecycleHandler{
+					Sleep: &v1.SleepAction{Seconds: 0},
+				},
+			}
+			podWithHook := getPodWithHook("pod-with-prestop-sleep-hook-zero-duration", imageutils.GetPauseImageName(), lifecycle)
+			ginkgo.By("create the pod with lifecycle hook using sleep action with zero duration")
+			podClient.CreateSync(ctx, podWithHook)
+			ginkgo.By("delete the pod with lifecycle hook using sleep action with zero duration")
+			start := time.Now()
+			podClient.DeleteSync(ctx, podWithHook.Name, metav1.DeleteOptions{}, e2epod.DefaultPodDeletionTimeout)
+			cost := time.Since(start)
+			// cost should be
+			// longer than 0 seconds (pod shouldn't sleep and the handler should return immediately)
+			// shorter than gracePeriodSeconds (default 30 seconds here)
+			if !validDuration(cost, 0, 30) {
+				framework.Failf("unexpected delay duration before killing the pod, cost = %v", cost)
+			}
+		})
+
+	})
+})
diff --git a/test/e2e/feature/feature.go b/test/e2e/feature/feature.go
index c5521fae8ca..557d0930cee 100644
--- a/test/e2e/feature/feature.go
+++ b/test/e2e/feature/feature.go
@@ -267,6 +267,10 @@ var (
 	// TODO: document the feature (owning SIG, when to use this feature for a test)
 	PodLifecycleSleepAction = framework.WithFeature(framework.ValidFeatures.Add("PodLifecycleSleepAction"))
 
+	// Owner: sig-node
+	// Marks a single test that tests Pod Lifecycle Sleep action with zero duration. Requires feature gate PodLifecycleSleepActionAllowZero to be enabled.
+	PodLifecycleSleepActionAllowZero = framework.WithFeature(framework.ValidFeatures.Add("PodLifecycleSleepActionAllowZero"))
+
 	// TODO: document the feature (owning SIG, when to use this feature for a test)
 	PodPriority = framework.WithFeature(framework.ValidFeatures.Add("PodPriority"))
 
diff --git a/test/featuregates_linter/test_data/versioned_feature_list.yaml b/test/featuregates_linter/test_data/versioned_feature_list.yaml
index b542b85b85c..ca7fdf1590c 100644
--- a/test/featuregates_linter/test_data/versioned_feature_list.yaml
+++ b/test/featuregates_linter/test_data/versioned_feature_list.yaml
@@ -890,6 +890,12 @@
     lockToDefault: false
     preRelease: Beta
     version: "1.30"
+- name: PodLifecycleSleepActionAllowZero
+  versionedSpecs:
+  - default: false
+    lockToDefault: false
+    preRelease: Alpha
+    version: "1.32"
 - name: PodReadyToStartContainersCondition
   versionedSpecs:
   - default: false