diff --git a/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go b/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go
index d7ba7f8541f..5d24e25dc6e 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ var expKeyFunc = func(obj interface{}) (string, error) {
 type RCExpectationsManager interface {
 	GetExpectations(rc *api.ReplicationController) (*PodExpectations, bool, error)
 	SatisfiedExpectations(rc *api.ReplicationController) bool
+	DeleteExpectations(rcKey string)
 	ExpectCreations(rc *api.ReplicationController, adds int) error
 	ExpectDeletions(rc *api.ReplicationController, dels int) error
 	CreationObserved(rc *api.ReplicationController)
@@ -87,6 +88,15 @@ func (r *RCExpectations) GetExpectations(rc *api.ReplicationController) (*PodExp
 	}
 }
 
+// DeleteExpectations deletes the expectations of the given RC from the TTLStore.
+func (r *RCExpectations) DeleteExpectations(rcKey string) {
+	if podExp, exists, err := r.GetByKey(rcKey); err == nil && exists {
+		if err := r.Delete(podExp); err != nil {
+			glog.V(2).Infof("Error deleting expectations for rc %v: %v", rcKey, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // SatisfiedExpectations returns true if the replication manager has observed the required adds/dels
 // for the given rc. Add/del counts are established by the rc at sync time, and updated as pods
 // are observed by the replication manager's podController.
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replication_controller.go b/pkg/controller/replication_controller.go
index e1866b05f54..395d2df6264 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replication_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replication_controller.go
@@ -354,6 +354,7 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) syncReplicationController(key string) error {
 	obj, exists, err := rm.controllerStore.Store.GetByKey(key)
 	if !exists {
 		glog.Infof("Replication Controller has been deleted %v", key)
+		rm.expectations.DeleteExpectations(key)
 		return nil
 	}
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replication_controller_test.go b/pkg/controller/replication_controller_test.go
index 2623d36faa2..71ec28e6974 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replication_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replication_controller_test.go
@@ -990,3 +990,38 @@ func TestRCSyncExpectations(t *testing.T) {
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(controllerSpec, t))
 	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
 }
+
+func TestDeleteControllerAndExpectations(t *testing.T) {
+	client := client.NewOrDie(&client.Config{Host: "", Version: testapi.Version()})
+	manager := NewReplicationManager(client, 10)
+
+	rc := newReplicationController(1)
+	manager.controllerStore.Store.Add(rc)
+
+	fakePodControl := FakePodControl{}
+	manager.podControl = &fakePodControl
+
+	// This should set expectations for the rc
+	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0)
+	fakePodControl.clear()
+
+	// This is to simulate a concurrent addPod, that has a handle on the expectations
+	// as the controller deletes it.
+	podExp, exists, err := manager.expectations.GetExpectations(rc)
+	if !exists || err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("No expectations found for rc")
+	}
+	manager.controllerStore.Delete(rc)
+	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
+
+	if _, exists, err = manager.expectations.GetExpectations(rc); exists {
+		t.Errorf("Found expectaions, expected none since the rc has been deleted.")
+	}
+
+	// This should have no effect, since we've deleted the rc.
+	podExp.Seen(1, 0)
+	manager.podStore.Store.Replace(make([]interface{}, 0))
+	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
+}