diff --git a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go
index d7b8f802838..665f08578ba 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set.go
@@ -554,9 +554,6 @@ func (rsc *ReplicaSetController) syncReplicaSet(key string) error {
 	cm := controller.NewPodControllerRefManager(rsc.podControl, rs, selector, controllerKind)
 	filteredPods, err = cm.ClaimPods(pods)
 	if err != nil {
-		// Something went wrong with adoption or release.
-		// Requeue and try again so we don't leave orphans sitting around.
-		rsc.queue.Add(key)
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go
index 80e3e672288..ae79874dd97 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go
@@ -189,6 +189,24 @@ func newPodList(store cache.Store, count int, status v1.PodPhase, labelMap map[s
 	}
 }
 
+// processSync initiates a sync via processNextWorkItem() to test behavior that
+// depends on both functions (such as re-queueing on sync error).
+func processSync(rsc *ReplicaSetController, key string) error {
+	// Save old syncHandler and replace with one that captures the error.
+	oldSyncHandler := rsc.syncHandler
+	defer func() {
+		rsc.syncHandler = oldSyncHandler
+	}()
+	var syncErr error
+	rsc.syncHandler = func(key string) error {
+		syncErr = oldSyncHandler(key)
+		return syncErr
+	}
+	rsc.queue.Add(key)
+	rsc.processNextWorkItem()
+	return syncErr
+}
+
 func validateSyncReplicaSet(t *testing.T, fakePodControl *controller.FakePodControl, expectedCreates, expectedDeletes, expectedPatches int) {
 	if e, a := expectedCreates, len(fakePodControl.Templates); e != a {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected number of creates.  Expected %d, saw %d\n", e, a)
@@ -1303,7 +1321,7 @@ func TestPatchPodFails(t *testing.T) {
 	// control of the pods and requeue to try again.
 	fakePodControl.Err = fmt.Errorf("Fake Error")
 	rsKey := getKey(rs, t)
-	err := manager.syncReplicaSet(rsKey)
+	err := processSync(manager, rsKey)
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "Fake Error") {
 		t.Errorf("expected Fake Error, got %+v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
index 5c23a0b0974..df34de1c63f 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
@@ -386,29 +386,27 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) enqueueControllerAfter(obj interface{}, after time
 // worker runs a worker thread that just dequeues items, processes them, and marks them done.
 // It enforces that the syncHandler is never invoked concurrently with the same key.
 func (rm *ReplicationManager) worker() {
-	workFunc := func() bool {
-		key, quit := rm.queue.Get()
-		if quit {
-			return true
-		}
-		defer rm.queue.Done(key)
+	for rm.processNextWorkItem() {
+	}
+	glog.Infof("replication controller worker shutting down")
+}
 
-		err := rm.syncHandler(key.(string))
-		if err == nil {
-			rm.queue.Forget(key)
-			return false
-		}
-
-		rm.queue.AddRateLimited(key)
-		utilruntime.HandleError(err)
+func (rm *ReplicationManager) processNextWorkItem() bool {
+	key, quit := rm.queue.Get()
+	if quit {
 		return false
 	}
-	for {
-		if quit := workFunc(); quit {
-			glog.Infof("replication controller worker shutting down")
-			return
-		}
+	defer rm.queue.Done(key)
+
+	err := rm.syncHandler(key.(string))
+	if err == nil {
+		rm.queue.Forget(key)
+		return true
 	}
+
+	rm.queue.AddRateLimited(key)
+	utilruntime.HandleError(err)
+	return true
 }
 
 // manageReplicas checks and updates replicas for the given replication controller.
@@ -569,16 +567,11 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) syncReplicationController(key string) error {
 	// anymore but has the stale controller ref.
 	pods, err := rm.podLister.Pods(rc.Namespace).List(labels.Everything())
 	if err != nil {
-		utilruntime.HandleError(fmt.Errorf("Error getting pods for rc %q: %v", key, err))
-		rm.queue.Add(key)
 		return err
 	}
 	cm := controller.NewPodControllerRefManager(rm.podControl, rc, labels.Set(rc.Spec.Selector).AsSelectorPreValidated(), controllerKind)
 	filteredPods, err = cm.ClaimPods(pods)
 	if err != nil {
-		// Something went wrong with adoption or release.
-		// Requeue and try again so we don't leave orphans sitting around.
-		rm.queue.Add(key)
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go
index dda9435f9db..23ce15afa90 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go
@@ -146,6 +146,24 @@ func newPodList(store cache.Store, count int, status v1.PodPhase, rc *v1.Replica
 	}
 }
 
+// processSync initiates a sync via processNextWorkItem() to test behavior that
+// depends on both functions (such as re-queueing on sync error).
+func processSync(rm *ReplicationManager, key string) error {
+	// Save old syncHandler and replace with one that captures the error.
+	oldSyncHandler := rm.syncHandler
+	defer func() {
+		rm.syncHandler = oldSyncHandler
+	}()
+	var syncErr error
+	rm.syncHandler = func(key string) error {
+		syncErr = oldSyncHandler(key)
+		return syncErr
+	}
+	rm.queue.Add(key)
+	rm.processNextWorkItem()
+	return syncErr
+}
+
 func validateSyncReplication(t *testing.T, fakePodControl *controller.FakePodControl, expectedCreates, expectedDeletes, expectedPatches int) {
 	if e, a := expectedCreates, len(fakePodControl.Templates); e != a {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected number of creates.  Expected %d, saw %d\n", e, a)
@@ -1280,7 +1298,7 @@ func TestPatchPodFails(t *testing.T) {
 	// control of the pods and requeue to try again.
 	fakePodControl.Err = fmt.Errorf("Fake Error")
 	rcKey := getKey(rc, t)
-	err := manager.syncReplicationController(rcKey)
+	err := processSync(manager, rcKey)
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "Fake Error") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected Fake Error, got %v", err)
 	}