diff --git a/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go b/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go
index cffcc7795cf..507995c004d 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go
@@ -113,6 +113,10 @@ func (m *baseControllerRefManager) claimObject(obj metav1.Object, match func(met
 		// Ignore if we're being deleted or selector doesn't match.
 		return false, nil
 	}
+	if obj.GetDeletionTimestamp() != nil {
+		// Ignore if the object is being deleted
+		return false, nil
+	}
 	// Selector matches. Try to adopt.
 	if err := adopt(obj); err != nil {
 		// If the pod no longer exists, ignore the error.
diff --git a/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager_test.go b/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager_test.go
index 80e176e3de7..6a3045f83f2 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager_test.go
@@ -155,6 +155,26 @@ func TestClaimPods(t *testing.T) {
 				claimed: []*v1.Pod{newPod("pod1", productionLabel, &controller)},
 			}
 		}(),
+		func() test {
+			controller := v1.ReplicationController{}
+			controller.UID = types.UID(controllerUID)
+			podToDelete1 := newPod("pod1", productionLabel, &controller)
+			podToDelete2 := newPod("pod2", productionLabel, nil)
+			now := metav1.Now()
+			podToDelete1.DeletionTimestamp = &now
+			podToDelete2.DeletionTimestamp = &now
+
+			return test{
+				name: "Controller does not claim orphaned pods marked for deletion",
+				manager: NewPodControllerRefManager(&FakePodControl{},
+					&controller,
+					productionLabelSelector,
+					controllerKind,
+					func() error { return nil }),
+				pods:    []*v1.Pod{podToDelete1, podToDelete2},
+				claimed: []*v1.Pod{podToDelete1},
+			}
+		}(),
 	}
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		claimed, err := test.manager.ClaimPods(test.pods)