diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/queue.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/queue.go
index 39009b8e79a..f7c14ddcdb5 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/queue.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/util/workqueue/queue.go
@@ -55,7 +55,13 @@ func newQueue(c clock.Clock, metrics queueMetrics, updatePeriod time.Duration) *
 		metrics:                    metrics,
 		unfinishedWorkUpdatePeriod: updatePeriod,
 	}
-	go t.updateUnfinishedWorkLoop()
+
+	// Don't start the goroutine for a type of noMetrics so we don't consume
+	// resources unnecessarily
+	if _, ok := metrics.(noMetrics); !ok {
+		go t.updateUnfinishedWorkLoop()
+	}
+
 	return t
 }