diff --git a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go
index 999351c50bc..355b3dc6821 100644
--- a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go
+++ b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go
@@ -215,6 +215,7 @@ func StartControllers(s *options.CMServer, kubeClient *client.Client, kubeconfig
 		ResyncPeriod(s),
 		replicationcontroller.BurstReplicas,
 		int(s.LookupCacheSizeForRC),
+		s.EnableGarbageCollector,
 	).Run(int(s.ConcurrentRCSyncs), wait.NeverStop)
 	time.Sleep(wait.Jitter(s.ControllerStartInterval.Duration, ControllerStartJitter))
 
diff --git a/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go b/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6c530e47f37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/controller/controller_ref_manager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2016 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package controller
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/golang/glog"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/errors"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/unversioned"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/labels"
+)
+
+type PodControllerRefManager struct {
+	podControl         PodControlInterface
+	controllerObject   api.ObjectMeta
+	controllerSelector labels.Selector
+	controllerKind     unversioned.GroupVersionKind
+}
+
+// NewPodControllerRefManager returns a PodControllerRefManager that exposes
+// methods to manage the controllerRef of pods.
+func NewPodControllerRefManager(
+	podControl PodControlInterface,
+	controllerObject api.ObjectMeta,
+	controllerSelector labels.Selector,
+	controllerKind unversioned.GroupVersionKind,
+) *PodControllerRefManager {
+	return &PodControllerRefManager{podControl, controllerObject, controllerSelector, controllerKind}
+}
+
+// Classify first filters out inactive pods, then it classify the remaining pods
+// into three categories: 1. matchesAndControlled are the pods whose labels
+// match the selector of the RC, and have a controllerRef pointing to the
+// controller 2. matchesNeedsController are the pods whose labels match the RC,
+// but don't have a controllerRef. (Pods with matching labels but with a
+// controllerRef pointing to other object are ignored) 3. controlledDoesNotMatch
+// are the pods that have a controllerRef pointing to the controller, but their
+// labels no longer match the selector.
+func (m *PodControllerRefManager) Classify(pods []api.Pod) (
+	matchesAndControlled []*api.Pod,
+	matchesNeedsController []*api.Pod,
+	controlledDoesNotMatch []*api.Pod) {
+	for i := range pods {
+		pod := pods[i]
+		if !IsPodActive(pod) {
+			glog.V(4).Infof("Ignoring inactive pod %v/%v in state %v, deletion time %v",
+				pod.Namespace, pod.Name, pod.Status.Phase, pod.DeletionTimestamp)
+			continue
+		}
+		controllerRef := getControllerOf(pod.ObjectMeta)
+		if controllerRef != nil {
+			if controllerRef.UID == m.controllerObject.UID {
+				// already controlled
+				if m.controllerSelector.Matches(labels.Set(pod.Labels)) {
+					matchesAndControlled = append(matchesAndControlled, &pod)
+				} else {
+					controlledDoesNotMatch = append(controlledDoesNotMatch, &pod)
+				}
+			} else {
+				// ignoring the pod controlled by other controller
+				glog.V(4).Infof("Ignoring pod %v/%v, it's owned by [%s/%s, name: %s, uid: %s]",
+					pod.Namespace, pod.Name, controllerRef.APIVersion, controllerRef.Kind, controllerRef.Name, controllerRef.UID)
+				continue
+			}
+		} else {
+			if !m.controllerSelector.Matches(labels.Set(pod.Labels)) {
+				continue
+			}
+			matchesNeedsController = append(matchesNeedsController, &pod)
+		}
+	}
+	return matchesAndControlled, matchesNeedsController, controlledDoesNotMatch
+}
+
+// getControllerOf returns the controllerRef if controllee has a controller,
+// otherwise returns nil.
+func getControllerOf(controllee api.ObjectMeta) *api.OwnerReference {
+	for _, owner := range controllee.OwnerReferences {
+		// controlled by other controller
+		if owner.Controller != nil && *owner.Controller == true {
+			return &owner
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// AdoptPod sends a patch to take control of the pod. It returns the error if
+// the patching fails.
+func (m *PodControllerRefManager) AdoptPod(pod *api.Pod) error {
+	// we should not adopt any pods if the controller is about to be deleted
+	if m.controllerObject.DeletionTimestamp != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cancel the adopt attempt for pod %s because the controlller is being deleted",
+			strings.Join([]string{pod.Namespace, pod.Name, string(pod.UID)}, "_"))
+	}
+	addControllerPatch := fmt.Sprintf(
+		`{"metadata":{"ownerReferences":[{"apiVersion":"%s","kind":"%s","name":"%s","uid":"%s","controller":true}],"uid":"%s"}}`,
+		m.controllerKind.GroupVersion(), m.controllerKind.Kind,
+		m.controllerObject.Name, m.controllerObject.UID, pod.UID)
+	return m.podControl.PatchPod(pod.Namespace, pod.Name, []byte(addControllerPatch))
+}
+
+// ReleasePod sends a patch to free the pod from the control of the controller.
+// It returns the error if the patching fails. 404 and 422 errors are ignored.
+func (m *PodControllerRefManager) ReleasePod(pod *api.Pod) error {
+	glog.V(2).Infof("patching pod %s_%s to remove its controllerRef to %s/%s:%s",
+		pod.Namespace, pod.Name, m.controllerKind.GroupVersion(), m.controllerKind.Kind, m.controllerObject.Name)
+	deleteOwnerRefPatch := fmt.Sprintf(`{"metadata":{"ownerReferences":[{"$patch":"delete","uid":"%s"}],"uid":"%s"}}`, m.controllerObject.UID, pod.UID)
+	err := m.podControl.PatchPod(pod.Namespace, pod.Name, []byte(deleteOwnerRefPatch))
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.IsNotFound(err) {
+			// If the pod no longer exists, ignore it.
+			return nil
+		}
+		if errors.IsInvalid(err) {
+			// Invalid error will be returned in two cases: 1. the pod
+			// has no owner reference, 2. the uid of the pod doesn't
+			// match, which means the pod is deleted and then recreated.
+			// In both cases, the error can be ignored.
+
+			// TODO: If the pod has owner references, but none of them
+			// has the owner.UID, server will silently ignore the patch.
+			// Investigate why.
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	return err
+}
diff --git a/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go b/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go
index f9241bd66c4..85224f8918a 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/controller_utils.go
@@ -349,8 +349,12 @@ type PodControlInterface interface {
 	CreatePods(namespace string, template *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object) error
 	// CreatePodsOnNode creates a new pod accorting to the spec on the specified node.
 	CreatePodsOnNode(nodeName, namespace string, template *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object) error
+	// CreatePodsWithControllerRef creates new pods according to the spec, and sets object as the pod's controller.
+	CreatePodsWithControllerRef(namespace string, template *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object, controllerRef *api.OwnerReference) error
 	// DeletePod deletes the pod identified by podID.
 	DeletePod(namespace string, podID string, object runtime.Object) error
+	// PatchPod patches the pod.
+	PatchPod(namespace, name string, data []byte) error
 }
 
 // RealPodControl is the default implementation of PodControlInterface.
@@ -404,14 +408,35 @@ func getPodsPrefix(controllerName string) string {
 }
 
 func (r RealPodControl) CreatePods(namespace string, template *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object) error {
-	return r.createPods("", namespace, template, object)
+	return r.createPods("", namespace, template, object, nil)
+}
+
+func (r RealPodControl) CreatePodsWithControllerRef(namespace string, template *api.PodTemplateSpec, controllerObject runtime.Object, controllerRef *api.OwnerReference) error {
+	if controllerRef == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("controllerRef is nil")
+	}
+	if len(controllerRef.APIVersion) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("controllerRef has empty APIVersion")
+	}
+	if len(controllerRef.Kind) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("controllerRef has empty Kind")
+	}
+	if controllerRef.Controller == nil || *controllerRef.Controller != true {
+		return fmt.Errorf("controllerRef.Controller is not set")
+	}
+	return r.createPods("", namespace, template, controllerObject, controllerRef)
 }
 
 func (r RealPodControl) CreatePodsOnNode(nodeName, namespace string, template *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object) error {
-	return r.createPods(nodeName, namespace, template, object)
+	return r.createPods(nodeName, namespace, template, object, nil)
 }
 
-func GetPodFromTemplate(template *api.PodTemplateSpec, parentObject runtime.Object) (*api.Pod, error) {
+func (r RealPodControl) PatchPod(namespace, name string, data []byte) error {
+	_, err := r.KubeClient.Core().Pods(namespace).Patch(name, api.StrategicMergePatchType, data)
+	return err
+}
+
+func GetPodFromTemplate(template *api.PodTemplateSpec, parentObject runtime.Object, controllerRef *api.OwnerReference) (*api.Pod, error) {
 	desiredLabels := getPodsLabelSet(template)
 	desiredAnnotations, err := getPodsAnnotationSet(template, parentObject)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -430,14 +455,17 @@ func GetPodFromTemplate(template *api.PodTemplateSpec, parentObject runtime.Obje
 			GenerateName: prefix,
 		},
 	}
+	if controllerRef != nil {
+		pod.OwnerReferences = append(pod.OwnerReferences, *controllerRef)
+	}
 	if err := api.Scheme.Convert(&template.Spec, &pod.Spec); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to convert pod template: %v", err)
 	}
 	return pod, nil
 }
 
-func (r RealPodControl) createPods(nodeName, namespace string, template *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object) error {
-	pod, err := GetPodFromTemplate(template, object)
+func (r RealPodControl) createPods(nodeName, namespace string, template *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object, controllerRef *api.OwnerReference) error {
+	pod, err := GetPodFromTemplate(template, object, controllerRef)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -479,40 +507,63 @@ func (r RealPodControl) DeletePod(namespace string, podID string, object runtime
 
 type FakePodControl struct {
 	sync.Mutex
-	Templates     []api.PodTemplateSpec
-	DeletePodName []string
-	Err           error
+	Templates      []api.PodTemplateSpec
+	ControllerRefs []api.OwnerReference
+	DeletePodName  []string
+	Patches        [][]byte
+	Err            error
 }
 
 var _ PodControlInterface = &FakePodControl{}
 
-func (f *FakePodControl) CreatePods(namespace string, spec *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object) error {
+func (f *FakePodControl) PatchPod(namespace, name string, data []byte) error {
 	f.Lock()
 	defer f.Unlock()
+	f.Patches = append(f.Patches, data)
 	if f.Err != nil {
 		return f.Err
 	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (f *FakePodControl) CreatePods(namespace string, spec *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object) error {
+	f.Lock()
+	defer f.Unlock()
 	f.Templates = append(f.Templates, *spec)
+	if f.Err != nil {
+		return f.Err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (f *FakePodControl) CreatePodsWithControllerRef(namespace string, spec *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object, controllerRef *api.OwnerReference) error {
+	f.Lock()
+	defer f.Unlock()
+	f.Templates = append(f.Templates, *spec)
+	f.ControllerRefs = append(f.ControllerRefs, *controllerRef)
+	if f.Err != nil {
+		return f.Err
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (f *FakePodControl) CreatePodsOnNode(nodeName, namespace string, template *api.PodTemplateSpec, object runtime.Object) error {
 	f.Lock()
 	defer f.Unlock()
+	f.Templates = append(f.Templates, *template)
 	if f.Err != nil {
 		return f.Err
 	}
-	f.Templates = append(f.Templates, *template)
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (f *FakePodControl) DeletePod(namespace string, podID string, object runtime.Object) error {
 	f.Lock()
 	defer f.Unlock()
+	f.DeletePodName = append(f.DeletePodName, podID)
 	if f.Err != nil {
 		return f.Err
 	}
-	f.DeletePodName = append(f.DeletePodName, podID)
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -521,6 +572,8 @@ func (f *FakePodControl) Clear() {
 	defer f.Unlock()
 	f.DeletePodName = []string{}
 	f.Templates = []api.PodTemplateSpec{}
+	f.ControllerRefs = []api.OwnerReference{}
+	f.Patches = [][]byte{}
 }
 
 // ByLogging allows custom sorting of pods so the best one can be picked for getting its logs.
diff --git a/pkg/controller/controller_utils_test.go b/pkg/controller/controller_utils_test.go
index 01d7705ce3f..65dba496f69 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/controller_utils_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/controller_utils_test.go
@@ -253,7 +253,9 @@ func TestCreatePods(t *testing.T) {
 	controllerSpec := newReplicationController(1)
 
 	// Make sure createReplica sends a POST to the apiserver with a pod from the controllers pod template
-	podControl.CreatePods(ns, controllerSpec.Spec.Template, controllerSpec)
+	if err := podControl.CreatePods(ns, controllerSpec.Spec.Template, controllerSpec); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
 
 	expectedPod := api.Pod{
 		ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{
@@ -265,7 +267,7 @@ func TestCreatePods(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeHandler.ValidateRequest(t, testapi.Default.ResourcePath("pods", api.NamespaceDefault, ""), "POST", nil)
 	actualPod, err := runtime.Decode(testapi.Default.Codec(), []byte(fakeHandler.RequestBody))
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %#v", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 	if !api.Semantic.DeepDerivative(&expectedPod, actualPod) {
 		t.Logf("Body: %s", fakeHandler.RequestBody)
diff --git a/pkg/controller/job/jobcontroller_test.go b/pkg/controller/job/jobcontroller_test.go
index f76cdb2d6bf..4468d544051 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/job/jobcontroller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/job/jobcontroller_test.go
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ func TestControllerSyncJob(t *testing.T) {
 		"too few active pods, with controller error": {
 			2, 5, false,
 			fmt.Errorf("Fake error"), 0, 1, 1, 0,
-			0, 0, 1, 1, 0, false,
+			1, 0, 1, 1, 0, false,
 		},
 		"too many active pods": {
 			2, 5, false,
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ func TestControllerSyncJob(t *testing.T) {
 		"too many active pods, with controller error": {
 			2, 5, false,
 			fmt.Errorf("Fake error"), 0, 3, 0, 0,
-			0, 0, 3, 0, 0, false,
+			0, 1, 3, 0, 0, false,
 		},
 		"failed pod": {
 			2, 5, false,
diff --git a/pkg/controller/petset/iterator.go b/pkg/controller/petset/iterator.go
index aef4ac9dd29..e564af6660a 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/petset/iterator.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/petset/iterator.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import (
 
 // newPCB generates a new PCB using the id string as a unique qualifier
 func newPCB(id string, ps *apps.PetSet) (*pcb, error) {
-	petPod, err := controller.GetPodFromTemplate(&ps.Spec.Template, ps)
+	petPod, err := controller.GetPodFromTemplate(&ps.Spec.Template, ps, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go
index f74a04236cb..72dd401fcb7 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replicaset/replica_set_test.go
@@ -352,9 +352,10 @@ func TestSyncReplicaSetDormancy(t *testing.T) {
 	fakePodControl.Err = fmt.Errorf("Fake Error")
 
 	manager.syncReplicaSet(getKey(rsSpec, t))
-	validateSyncReplicaSet(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
+	validateSyncReplicaSet(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0)
 
 	// This replica should not need a Lowering of expectations, since the previous create failed
+	fakePodControl.Clear()
 	fakePodControl.Err = nil
 	manager.syncReplicaSet(getKey(rsSpec, t))
 	validateSyncReplicaSet(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0)
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
index 08a036d2f7d..ba5f5b8af5f 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller.go
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/golang/glog"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/errors"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/unversioned"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/cache"
 	clientset "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/clientset_generated/internalclientset"
 	unversionedcore "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/clientset_generated/internalclientset/typed/core/unversioned"
@@ -36,6 +39,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/labels"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util"
+	utilerrors "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util/errors"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util/metrics"
 	utilruntime "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util/wait"
@@ -65,6 +69,10 @@ const (
 	statusUpdateRetries = 1
 )
 
+func getRCKind() unversioned.GroupVersionKind {
+	return v1.SchemeGroupVersion.WithKind("ReplicationController")
+}
+
 // ReplicationManager is responsible for synchronizing ReplicationController objects stored
 // in the system with actual running pods.
 // TODO: this really should be called ReplicationController. The only reason why it's a Manager
@@ -105,20 +113,24 @@ type ReplicationManager struct {
 
 	// Controllers that need to be synced
 	queue *workqueue.Type
+
+	// garbageCollectorEnabled denotes if the garbage collector is enabled. RC
+	// manager behaves differently if GC is enabled.
+	garbageCollectorEnabled bool
 }
 
 // NewReplicationManager creates a replication manager
-func NewReplicationManager(podInformer framework.SharedIndexInformer, kubeClient clientset.Interface, resyncPeriod controller.ResyncPeriodFunc, burstReplicas int, lookupCacheSize int) *ReplicationManager {
+func NewReplicationManager(podInformer framework.SharedIndexInformer, kubeClient clientset.Interface, resyncPeriod controller.ResyncPeriodFunc, burstReplicas int, lookupCacheSize int, garbageCollectorEnabled bool) *ReplicationManager {
 	eventBroadcaster := record.NewBroadcaster()
 	eventBroadcaster.StartLogging(glog.Infof)
 	eventBroadcaster.StartRecordingToSink(&unversionedcore.EventSinkImpl{Interface: kubeClient.Core().Events("")})
-	return newReplicationManagerInternal(
+	return newReplicationManager(
 		eventBroadcaster.NewRecorder(api.EventSource{Component: "replication-controller"}),
-		podInformer, kubeClient, resyncPeriod, burstReplicas, lookupCacheSize)
+		podInformer, kubeClient, resyncPeriod, burstReplicas, lookupCacheSize, garbageCollectorEnabled)
 }
 
-// newReplicationManagerInternal configures a replication manager with the specified event recorder
-func newReplicationManagerInternal(eventRecorder record.EventRecorder, podInformer framework.SharedIndexInformer, kubeClient clientset.Interface, resyncPeriod controller.ResyncPeriodFunc, burstReplicas int, lookupCacheSize int) *ReplicationManager {
+// newReplicationManager configures a replication manager with the specified event recorder
+func newReplicationManager(eventRecorder record.EventRecorder, podInformer framework.SharedIndexInformer, kubeClient clientset.Interface, resyncPeriod controller.ResyncPeriodFunc, burstReplicas int, lookupCacheSize int, garbageCollectorEnabled bool) *ReplicationManager {
 	if kubeClient != nil && kubeClient.Core().GetRESTClient().GetRateLimiter() != nil {
 		metrics.RegisterMetricAndTrackRateLimiterUsage("replication_controller", kubeClient.Core().GetRESTClient().GetRateLimiter())
 	}
@@ -132,6 +144,7 @@ func newReplicationManagerInternal(eventRecorder record.EventRecorder, podInform
 		burstReplicas: burstReplicas,
 		expectations:  controller.NewUIDTrackingControllerExpectations(controller.NewControllerExpectations()),
 		queue:         workqueue.New(),
+		garbageCollectorEnabled: garbageCollectorEnabled,
 	}
 
 	rm.rcStore.Indexer, rm.rcController = framework.NewIndexerInformer(
@@ -147,43 +160,8 @@ func newReplicationManagerInternal(eventRecorder record.EventRecorder, podInform
 		// TODO: Can we have much longer period here?
 		FullControllerResyncPeriod,
 		framework.ResourceEventHandlerFuncs{
-			AddFunc: rm.enqueueController,
-			UpdateFunc: func(old, cur interface{}) {
-				oldRC := old.(*api.ReplicationController)
-				curRC := cur.(*api.ReplicationController)
-
-				// We should invalidate the whole lookup cache if a RC's selector has been updated.
-				//
-				// Imagine that you have two RCs:
-				// * old RC1
-				// * new RC2
-				// You also have a pod that is attached to RC2 (because it doesn't match RC1 selector).
-				// Now imagine that you are changing RC1 selector so that it is now matching that pod,
-				// in such case, we must invalidate the whole cache so that pod could be adopted by RC1
-				//
-				// This makes the lookup cache less helpful, but selector update does not happen often,
-				// so it's not a big problem
-				if !reflect.DeepEqual(oldRC.Spec.Selector, curRC.Spec.Selector) {
-					rm.lookupCache.InvalidateAll()
-				}
-
-				// You might imagine that we only really need to enqueue the
-				// controller when Spec changes, but it is safer to sync any
-				// time this function is triggered. That way a full informer
-				// resync can requeue any controllers that don't yet have pods
-				// but whose last attempts at creating a pod have failed (since
-				// we don't block on creation of pods) instead of those
-				// controllers stalling indefinitely. Enqueueing every time
-				// does result in some spurious syncs (like when Status.Replica
-				// is updated and the watch notification from it retriggers
-				// this function), but in general extra resyncs shouldn't be
-				// that bad as rcs that haven't met expectations yet won't
-				// sync, and all the listing is done using local stores.
-				if oldRC.Status.Replicas != curRC.Status.Replicas {
-					glog.V(4).Infof("Observed updated replica count for rc: %v, %d->%d", curRC.Name, oldRC.Status.Replicas, curRC.Status.Replicas)
-				}
-				rm.enqueueController(cur)
-			},
+			AddFunc:    rm.enqueueController,
+			UpdateFunc: rm.updateRC,
 			// This will enter the sync loop and no-op, because the controller has been deleted from the store.
 			// Note that deleting a controller immediately after scaling it to 0 will not work. The recommended
 			// way of achieving this is by performing a `stop` operation on the controller.
@@ -212,7 +190,8 @@ func newReplicationManagerInternal(eventRecorder record.EventRecorder, podInform
 // NewReplicationManagerFromClientForIntegration creates a new ReplicationManager that runs its own informer.  It disables event recording for use in integration tests.
 func NewReplicationManagerFromClientForIntegration(kubeClient clientset.Interface, resyncPeriod controller.ResyncPeriodFunc, burstReplicas int, lookupCacheSize int) *ReplicationManager {
 	podInformer := informers.CreateSharedPodIndexInformer(kubeClient, resyncPeriod())
-	rm := newReplicationManagerInternal(&record.FakeRecorder{}, podInformer, kubeClient, resyncPeriod, burstReplicas, lookupCacheSize)
+	garbageCollectorEnabled := false
+	rm := newReplicationManager(&record.FakeRecorder{}, podInformer, kubeClient, resyncPeriod, burstReplicas, lookupCacheSize, garbageCollectorEnabled)
 	rm.internalPodInformer = podInformer
 	return rm
 }
@@ -220,7 +199,8 @@ func NewReplicationManagerFromClientForIntegration(kubeClient clientset.Interfac
 // NewReplicationManagerFromClient creates a new ReplicationManager that runs its own informer.
 func NewReplicationManagerFromClient(kubeClient clientset.Interface, resyncPeriod controller.ResyncPeriodFunc, burstReplicas int, lookupCacheSize int) *ReplicationManager {
 	podInformer := informers.CreateSharedPodIndexInformer(kubeClient, resyncPeriod())
-	rm := NewReplicationManager(podInformer, kubeClient, resyncPeriod, burstReplicas, lookupCacheSize)
+	garbageCollectorEnabled := false
+	rm := NewReplicationManager(podInformer, kubeClient, resyncPeriod, burstReplicas, lookupCacheSize, garbageCollectorEnabled)
 	rm.internalPodInformer = podInformer
 
 	return rm
@@ -255,13 +235,14 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) Run(workers int, stopCh <-chan struct{}) {
 
 // getPodController returns the controller managing the given pod.
 // TODO: Surface that we are ignoring multiple controllers for a single pod.
+// TODO: use ownerReference.Controller to determine if the rc controls the pod.
 func (rm *ReplicationManager) getPodController(pod *api.Pod) *api.ReplicationController {
 	// look up in the cache, if cached and the cache is valid, just return cached value
 	if obj, cached := rm.lookupCache.GetMatchingObject(pod); cached {
 		controller, ok := obj.(*api.ReplicationController)
 		if !ok {
 			// This should not happen
-			glog.Errorf("lookup cache does not retuen a ReplicationController object")
+			glog.Errorf("lookup cache does not return a ReplicationController object")
 			return nil
 		}
 		if cached && rm.isCacheValid(pod, controller) {
@@ -320,6 +301,44 @@ func isControllerMatch(pod *api.Pod, rc *api.ReplicationController) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
+// callback when RC is updated
+func (rm *ReplicationManager) updateRC(old, cur interface{}) {
+	oldRC := old.(*api.ReplicationController)
+	curRC := cur.(*api.ReplicationController)
+
+	// We should invalidate the whole lookup cache if a RC's selector has been updated.
+	//
+	// Imagine that you have two RCs:
+	// * old RC1
+	// * new RC2
+	// You also have a pod that is attached to RC2 (because it doesn't match RC1 selector).
+	// Now imagine that you are changing RC1 selector so that it is now matching that pod,
+	// in such case, we must invalidate the whole cache so that pod could be adopted by RC1
+	//
+	// This makes the lookup cache less helpful, but selector update does not happen often,
+	// so it's not a big problem
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(oldRC.Spec.Selector, curRC.Spec.Selector) {
+		rm.lookupCache.InvalidateAll()
+	}
+
+	// You might imagine that we only really need to enqueue the
+	// controller when Spec changes, but it is safer to sync any
+	// time this function is triggered. That way a full informer
+	// resync can requeue any controllers that don't yet have pods
+	// but whose last attempts at creating a pod have failed (since
+	// we don't block on creation of pods) instead of those
+	// controllers stalling indefinitely. Enqueueing every time
+	// does result in some spurious syncs (like when Status.Replica
+	// is updated and the watch notification from it retriggers
+	// this function), but in general extra resyncs shouldn't be
+	// that bad as rcs that haven't met expectations yet won't
+	// sync, and all the listing is done using local stores.
+	if oldRC.Status.Replicas != curRC.Status.Replicas {
+		glog.V(4).Infof("Observed updated replica count for rc: %v, %d->%d", curRC.Name, oldRC.Status.Replicas, curRC.Status.Replicas)
+	}
+	rm.enqueueController(cur)
+}
+
 // When a pod is created, enqueue the controller that manages it and update it's expectations.
 func (rm *ReplicationManager) addPod(obj interface{}) {
 	pod := obj.(*api.Pod)
@@ -370,10 +389,8 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) updatePod(old, cur interface{}) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if rc := rm.getPodController(curPod); rc != nil {
-		rm.enqueueController(rc)
-	}
 	// Only need to get the old controller if the labels changed.
+	// Enqueue the oldRC before the curRC to give curRC a chance to adopt the oldPod.
 	if labelChanged {
 		// If the old and new rc are the same, the first one that syncs
 		// will set expectations preventing any damage from the second.
@@ -381,6 +398,10 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) updatePod(old, cur interface{}) {
 			rm.enqueueController(oldRC)
 		}
 	}
+
+	if curRC := rm.getPodController(curPod); curRC != nil {
+		rm.enqueueController(curRC)
+	}
 }
 
 // When a pod is deleted, enqueue the controller that manages the pod and update its expectations.
@@ -481,7 +502,21 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) manageReplicas(filteredPods []*api.Pod, rc *api.Re
 		for i := 0; i < diff; i++ {
 			go func() {
 				defer wg.Done()
-				if err := rm.podControl.CreatePods(rc.Namespace, rc.Spec.Template, rc); err != nil {
+				var err error
+				if rm.garbageCollectorEnabled {
+					var trueVar = true
+					controllerRef := &api.OwnerReference{
+						APIVersion: getRCKind().GroupVersion().String(),
+						Kind:       getRCKind().Kind,
+						Name:       rc.Name,
+						UID:        rc.UID,
+						Controller: &trueVar,
+					}
+					err = rm.podControl.CreatePodsWithControllerRef(rc.Namespace, rc.Spec.Template, rc, controllerRef)
+				} else {
+					err = rm.podControl.CreatePods(rc.Namespace, rc.Spec.Template, rc)
+				}
+				if err != nil {
 					// Decrement the expected number of creates because the informer won't observe this pod
 					glog.V(2).Infof("Failed creation, decrementing expectations for controller %q/%q", rc.Namespace, rc.Name)
 					rm.expectations.CreationObserved(rcKey)
@@ -580,7 +615,6 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) syncReplicationController(key string) error {
 	trace.Step("ReplicationController restored")
 	rcNeedsSync := rm.expectations.SatisfiedExpectations(rcKey)
 	trace.Step("Expectations restored")
-	podList, err := rm.podStore.Pods(rc.Namespace).List(labels.Set(rc.Spec.Selector).AsSelector())
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.Errorf("Error getting pods for rc %q: %v", key, err)
 		rm.queue.Add(key)
@@ -588,9 +622,59 @@ func (rm *ReplicationManager) syncReplicationController(key string) error {
 	}
 	trace.Step("Pods listed")
 
-	// TODO: Do this in a single pass, or use an index.
-	filteredPods := controller.FilterActivePods(podList.Items)
-	if rcNeedsSync {
+	// TODO: Do the List and Filter in a single pass, or use an index.
+	var filteredPods []*api.Pod
+	if rm.garbageCollectorEnabled {
+		// list all pods to include the pods that don't match the rc's selector
+		// anymore but has the stale controller ref.
+		podList, err := rm.podStore.Pods(rc.Namespace).List(labels.Everything())
+		if err != nil {
+			glog.Errorf("Error getting pods for rc %q: %v", key, err)
+			rm.queue.Add(key)
+			return err
+		}
+		cm := controller.NewPodControllerRefManager(rm.podControl, rc.ObjectMeta, labels.Set(rc.Spec.Selector).AsSelector(), getRCKind())
+		matchesAndControlled, matchesNeedsController, controlledDoesNotMatch := cm.Classify(podList.Items)
+		for _, pod := range matchesNeedsController {
+			err := cm.AdoptPod(pod)
+			// continue to next pod if adoption fails.
+			if err != nil {
+				// If the pod no longer exists, don't even log the error.
+				if !errors.IsNotFound(err) {
+					utilruntime.HandleError(err)
+				}
+			} else {
+				matchesAndControlled = append(matchesAndControlled, pod)
+			}
+		}
+		filteredPods = matchesAndControlled
+		// remove the controllerRef for the pods that no longer have matching labels
+		var errlist []error
+		for _, pod := range controlledDoesNotMatch {
+			err := cm.ReleasePod(pod)
+			if err != nil {
+				errlist = append(errlist, cm.ReleasePod(pod))
+			}
+		}
+		if len(errlist) != 0 {
+			aggregate := utilerrors.NewAggregate(errlist)
+			// push the RC into work queue again. We need to try to free the
+			// pods again otherwise they will stuck with the stale
+			// controllerRef.
+			rm.queue.Add(key)
+			return aggregate
+		}
+	} else {
+		podList, err := rm.podStore.Pods(rc.Namespace).List(labels.Set(rc.Spec.Selector).AsSelector())
+		if err != nil {
+			glog.Errorf("Error getting pods for rc %q: %v", key, err)
+			rm.queue.Add(key)
+			return err
+		}
+		filteredPods = controller.FilterActivePods(podList.Items)
+	}
+
+	if rcNeedsSync && rc.DeletionTimestamp == nil {
 		rm.manageReplicas(filteredPods, &rc)
 	}
 	trace.Step("manageReplicas done")
diff --git a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go
index f518601656d..8cf150c0dcd 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/replication/replication_controller_test.go
@@ -95,34 +95,45 @@ func newReplicationController(replicas int) *api.ReplicationController {
 	return rc
 }
 
+// create a pod with the given phase for the given rc (same selectors and namespace).
+func newPod(name string, rc *api.ReplicationController, status api.PodPhase) *api.Pod {
+	return &api.Pod{
+		ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{
+			Name:      name,
+			Labels:    rc.Spec.Selector,
+			Namespace: rc.Namespace,
+		},
+		Status: api.PodStatus{Phase: status},
+	}
+}
+
 // create count pods with the given phase for the given rc (same selectors and namespace), and add them to the store.
 func newPodList(store cache.Store, count int, status api.PodPhase, rc *api.ReplicationController, name string) *api.PodList {
 	pods := []api.Pod{}
+	var trueVar = true
+	controllerReference := api.OwnerReference{UID: rc.UID, APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController", Name: rc.Name, Controller: &trueVar}
 	for i := 0; i < count; i++ {
-		newPod := api.Pod{
-			ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{
-				Name:      fmt.Sprintf("%s%d", name, i),
-				Labels:    rc.Spec.Selector,
-				Namespace: rc.Namespace,
-			},
-			Status: api.PodStatus{Phase: status},
-		}
+		pod := newPod(fmt.Sprintf("%s%d", name, i), rc, status)
+		pod.OwnerReferences = []api.OwnerReference{controllerReference}
 		if store != nil {
-			store.Add(&newPod)
+			store.Add(pod)
 		}
-		pods = append(pods, newPod)
+		pods = append(pods, *pod)
 	}
 	return &api.PodList{
 		Items: pods,
 	}
 }
 
-func validateSyncReplication(t *testing.T, fakePodControl *controller.FakePodControl, expectedCreates, expectedDeletes int) {
-	if len(fakePodControl.Templates) != expectedCreates {
-		t.Errorf("Unexpected number of creates.  Expected %d, saw %d\n", expectedCreates, len(fakePodControl.Templates))
+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)
 	}
-	if len(fakePodControl.DeletePodName) != expectedDeletes {
-		t.Errorf("Unexpected number of deletes.  Expected %d, saw %d\n", expectedDeletes, len(fakePodControl.DeletePodName))
+	if e, a := expectedDeletes, len(fakePodControl.DeletePodName); e != a {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected number of deletes.  Expected %d, saw %d\n", e, a)
+	}
+	if e, a := expectedPatches, len(fakePodControl.Patches); e != a {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected number of patches.  Expected %d, saw %d\n", e, a)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -148,7 +159,7 @@ func TestSyncReplicationControllerDoesNothing(t *testing.T) {
 
 	manager.podControl = &fakePodControl
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(controllerSpec, t))
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0, 0)
 }
 
 func TestSyncReplicationControllerDeletes(t *testing.T) {
@@ -164,7 +175,7 @@ func TestSyncReplicationControllerDeletes(t *testing.T) {
 	newPodList(manager.podStore.Indexer, 2, api.PodRunning, controllerSpec, "pod")
 
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(controllerSpec, t))
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 1)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 1, 0)
 }
 
 func TestDeleteFinalStateUnknown(t *testing.T) {
@@ -212,7 +223,7 @@ func TestSyncReplicationControllerCreates(t *testing.T) {
 	fakePodControl := controller.FakePodControl{}
 	manager.podControl = &fakePodControl
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 2, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 2, 0, 0)
 }
 
 func TestStatusUpdatesWithoutReplicasChange(t *testing.T) {
@@ -238,7 +249,7 @@ func TestStatusUpdatesWithoutReplicasChange(t *testing.T) {
 	manager.podControl = &fakePodControl
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
 
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0, 0)
 	if fakeHandler.RequestReceived != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected update when pods and rcs are in a steady state")
 	}
@@ -297,7 +308,7 @@ func TestControllerUpdateReplicas(t *testing.T) {
 
 	decRc := runtime.EncodeOrDie(testapi.Default.Codec(), rc)
 	fakeHandler.ValidateRequest(t, testapi.Default.ResourcePath(replicationControllerResourceName(), rc.Namespace, rc.Name)+"/status", "PUT", &decRc)
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0, 0)
 }
 
 func TestSyncReplicationControllerDormancy(t *testing.T) {
@@ -321,13 +332,13 @@ func TestSyncReplicationControllerDormancy(t *testing.T) {
 	// Creates a replica and sets expectations
 	controllerSpec.Status.Replicas = 1
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(controllerSpec, t))
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0, 0)
 
 	// Expectations prevents replicas but not an update on status
 	controllerSpec.Status.Replicas = 0
 	fakePodControl.Clear()
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(controllerSpec, t))
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0, 0)
 
 	// Get the key for the controller
 	rcKey, err := controller.KeyFunc(controllerSpec)
@@ -336,19 +347,20 @@ func TestSyncReplicationControllerDormancy(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Lowering expectations should lead to a sync that creates a replica, however the
-	// fakePodControl error will prevent this, leaving expectations at 0, 0
+	// fakePodControl error will prevent this, leaving expectations at 0, 0.
 	manager.expectations.CreationObserved(rcKey)
 	controllerSpec.Status.Replicas = 1
 	fakePodControl.Clear()
 	fakePodControl.Err = fmt.Errorf("Fake Error")
 
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(controllerSpec, t))
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0, 0)
 
 	// This replica should not need a Lowering of expectations, since the previous create failed
+	fakePodControl.Clear()
 	fakePodControl.Err = nil
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(controllerSpec, t))
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0, 0)
 
 	// 1 PUT for the rc status during dormancy window.
 	// Note that the pod creates go through pod control so they're not recorded.
@@ -697,7 +709,7 @@ func doTestControllerBurstReplicas(t *testing.T, burstReplicas, numReplicas int)
 					expectedPods = burstReplicas
 				}
 				// This validates the rc manager sync actually created pods
-				validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, expectedPods, 0)
+				validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, expectedPods, 0, 0)
 
 				// This simulates the watch events for all but 1 of the expected pods.
 				// None of these should wake the controller because it has expectations==BurstReplicas.
@@ -718,7 +730,7 @@ func doTestControllerBurstReplicas(t *testing.T, burstReplicas, numReplicas int)
 				if expectedPods > burstReplicas {
 					expectedPods = burstReplicas
 				}
-				validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, expectedPods)
+				validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, expectedPods, 0)
 
 				// To accurately simulate a watch we must delete the exact pods
 				// the rc is waiting for.
@@ -753,7 +765,7 @@ func doTestControllerBurstReplicas(t *testing.T, burstReplicas, numReplicas int)
 			// Check that the rc didn't take any action for all the above pods
 			fakePodControl.Clear()
 			manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(controllerSpec, t))
-			validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
+			validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0, 0)
 
 			// Create/Delete the last pod
 			// The last add pod will decrease the expectation of the rc to 0,
@@ -831,7 +843,7 @@ func TestRCSyncExpectations(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	})
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(controllerSpec, t))
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0, 0)
 }
 
 func TestDeleteControllerAndExpectations(t *testing.T) {
@@ -847,7 +859,7 @@ func TestDeleteControllerAndExpectations(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// This should set expectations for the rc
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0, 0)
 	fakePodControl.Clear()
 
 	// Get the RC key
@@ -873,7 +885,7 @@ func TestDeleteControllerAndExpectations(t *testing.T) {
 	podExp.Add(-1, 0)
 	manager.podStore.Indexer.Replace(make([]interface{}, 0), "0")
 	manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0, 0)
 }
 
 func TestRCManagerNotReady(t *testing.T) {
@@ -891,7 +903,7 @@ func TestRCManagerNotReady(t *testing.T) {
 
 	rcKey := getKey(controllerSpec, t)
 	manager.syncReplicationController(rcKey)
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 0, 0, 0)
 	queueRC, _ := manager.queue.Get()
 	if queueRC != rcKey {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected to find key %v in queue, found %v", rcKey, queueRC)
@@ -899,7 +911,7 @@ func TestRCManagerNotReady(t *testing.T) {
 
 	manager.podStoreSynced = alwaysReady
 	manager.syncReplicationController(rcKey)
-	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0)
+	validateSyncReplication(t, &fakePodControl, 1, 0, 0)
 }
 
 // shuffle returns a new shuffled list of container controllers.
@@ -1116,3 +1128,193 @@ func BenchmarkGetPodControllerSingleNS(b *testing.B) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// setupManagerWithGCEnabled creates a RC manager with a fakePodControl and with garbageCollectorEnabled set to true
+func setupManagerWithGCEnabled() (manager *ReplicationManager, fakePodControl *controller.FakePodControl) {
+	c := clientset.NewForConfigOrDie(&restclient.Config{Host: "", ContentConfig: restclient.ContentConfig{GroupVersion: testapi.Default.GroupVersion()}})
+	fakePodControl = &controller.FakePodControl{}
+	manager = NewReplicationManagerFromClient(c, controller.NoResyncPeriodFunc, BurstReplicas, 0)
+	manager.garbageCollectorEnabled = true
+	manager.podStoreSynced = alwaysReady
+	manager.podControl = fakePodControl
+	return manager, fakePodControl
+}
+
+func TestDoNotPatchPodWithOtherControlRef(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, fakePodControl := setupManagerWithGCEnabled()
+	rc := newReplicationController(2)
+	manager.rcStore.Indexer.Add(rc)
+	var trueVar = true
+	otherControllerReference := api.OwnerReference{UID: util.NewUUID(), APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController", Name: "AnotherRC", Controller: &trueVar}
+	// add to podStore a matching Pod controlled by another controller. Expect no patch.
+	pod := newPod("pod", rc, api.PodRunning)
+	pod.OwnerReferences = []api.OwnerReference{otherControllerReference}
+	manager.podStore.Indexer.Add(pod)
+	err := manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// because the matching pod already has a controller, so 2 pods should be created.
+	validateSyncReplication(t, fakePodControl, 2, 0, 0)
+}
+
+func TestPatchPodWithOtherOwnerRef(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, fakePodControl := setupManagerWithGCEnabled()
+	rc := newReplicationController(2)
+	manager.rcStore.Indexer.Add(rc)
+	// add to podStore one more matching pod that doesn't have a controller
+	// ref, but has an owner ref pointing to other object. Expect a patch to
+	// take control of it.
+	unrelatedOwnerReference := api.OwnerReference{UID: util.NewUUID(), APIVersion: "batch/v1", Kind: "Job", Name: "Job"}
+	pod := newPod("pod", rc, api.PodRunning)
+	pod.OwnerReferences = []api.OwnerReference{unrelatedOwnerReference}
+	manager.podStore.Indexer.Add(pod)
+
+	err := manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// 1 patch to take control of pod, and 1 create of new pod.
+	validateSyncReplication(t, fakePodControl, 1, 0, 1)
+}
+
+func TestPatchPodWithCorrectOwnerRef(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, fakePodControl := setupManagerWithGCEnabled()
+	rc := newReplicationController(2)
+	manager.rcStore.Indexer.Add(rc)
+	// add to podStore a matching pod that has an ownerRef pointing to the rc,
+	// but ownerRef.Controller is false. Expect a patch to take control it.
+	rcOwnerReference := api.OwnerReference{UID: rc.UID, APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController", Name: rc.Name}
+	pod := newPod("pod", rc, api.PodRunning)
+	pod.OwnerReferences = []api.OwnerReference{rcOwnerReference}
+	manager.podStore.Indexer.Add(pod)
+
+	err := manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// 1 patch to take control of pod, and 1 create of new pod.
+	validateSyncReplication(t, fakePodControl, 1, 0, 1)
+}
+
+func TestPatchPodFails(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, fakePodControl := setupManagerWithGCEnabled()
+	rc := newReplicationController(2)
+	manager.rcStore.Indexer.Add(rc)
+	// add to podStore two matching pods. Expect two patches to take control
+	// them.
+	manager.podStore.Indexer.Add(newPod("pod1", rc, api.PodRunning))
+	manager.podStore.Indexer.Add(newPod("pod2", rc, api.PodRunning))
+	// let both patches fail. The rc manager will assume it fails to take
+	// control of the pods and create new ones.
+	fakePodControl.Err = fmt.Errorf("Fake Error")
+	err := manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// 2 patches to take control of pod1 and pod2 (both fail), 2 creates.
+	validateSyncReplication(t, fakePodControl, 2, 0, 2)
+}
+
+func TestPatchExtraPodsThenDelete(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, fakePodControl := setupManagerWithGCEnabled()
+	rc := newReplicationController(2)
+	manager.rcStore.Indexer.Add(rc)
+	// add to podStore three matching pods. Expect three patches to take control
+	// them, and later delete one of them.
+	manager.podStore.Indexer.Add(newPod("pod1", rc, api.PodRunning))
+	manager.podStore.Indexer.Add(newPod("pod2", rc, api.PodRunning))
+	manager.podStore.Indexer.Add(newPod("pod3", rc, api.PodRunning))
+	err := manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// 3 patches to take control of the pods, and 1 deletion because there is an extra pod.
+	validateSyncReplication(t, fakePodControl, 0, 1, 3)
+}
+
+func TestUpdateLabelsRemoveControllerRef(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, fakePodControl := setupManagerWithGCEnabled()
+	rc := newReplicationController(2)
+	manager.rcStore.Indexer.Add(rc)
+	// put one pod in the podStore
+	pod := newPod("pod", rc, api.PodRunning)
+	var trueVar = true
+	rcOwnerReference := api.OwnerReference{UID: rc.UID, APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController", Name: rc.Name, Controller: &trueVar}
+	pod.OwnerReferences = []api.OwnerReference{rcOwnerReference}
+	updatedPod := *pod
+	// reset the labels
+	updatedPod.Labels = make(map[string]string)
+	// add the updatedPod to the store. This is consistent with the behavior of
+	// the Informer: Informer updates the store before call the handler
+	// (updatePod() in this case).
+	manager.podStore.Indexer.Add(&updatedPod)
+	// send a update of the same pod with modified labels
+	manager.updatePod(pod, &updatedPod)
+	// verifies that rc is added to the queue
+	rcKey := getKey(rc, t)
+	queueRC, _ := manager.queue.Get()
+	if queueRC != rcKey {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected to find key %v in queue, found %v", rcKey, queueRC)
+	}
+	manager.queue.Done(queueRC)
+	err := manager.syncReplicationController(rcKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// expect 1 patch to be sent to remove the controllerRef for the pod.
+	// expect 2 creates because the rc.Spec.Replicas=2 and there exists no
+	// matching pod.
+	validateSyncReplication(t, fakePodControl, 2, 0, 1)
+	fakePodControl.Clear()
+}
+
+func TestUpdateSelectorControllerRef(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, fakePodControl := setupManagerWithGCEnabled()
+	rc := newReplicationController(2)
+	// put 2 pods in the podStore
+	newPodList(manager.podStore.Indexer, 2, api.PodRunning, rc, "pod")
+	// update the RC so that its selector no longer matches the pods
+	updatedRC := *rc
+	updatedRC.Spec.Selector = map[string]string{"foo": "baz"}
+	// put the updatedRC into the store. This is consistent with the behavior of
+	// the Informer: Informer updates the store before call the handler
+	// (updateRC() in this case).
+	manager.rcStore.Indexer.Add(&updatedRC)
+	manager.updateRC(rc, &updatedRC)
+	// verifies that the rc is added to the queue
+	rcKey := getKey(rc, t)
+	queueRC, _ := manager.queue.Get()
+	if queueRC != rcKey {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected to find key %v in queue, found %v", rcKey, queueRC)
+	}
+	manager.queue.Done(queueRC)
+	err := manager.syncReplicationController(rcKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// expect 2 patches to be sent to remove the controllerRef for the pods.
+	// expect 2 creates because the rc.Spec.Replicas=2 and there exists no
+	// matching pod.
+	validateSyncReplication(t, fakePodControl, 2, 0, 2)
+	fakePodControl.Clear()
+}
+
+// RC manager shouldn't adopt or create more pods if the rc is about to be
+// deleted.
+func TestDoNotAdoptOrCreateIfBeingDeleted(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, fakePodControl := setupManagerWithGCEnabled()
+	rc := newReplicationController(2)
+	now := unversioned.Now()
+	rc.DeletionTimestamp = &now
+	manager.rcStore.Indexer.Add(rc)
+	pod1 := newPod("pod1", rc, api.PodRunning)
+	manager.podStore.Indexer.Add(pod1)
+
+	// no patch, no create
+	err := manager.syncReplicationController(getKey(rc, t))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	validateSyncReplication(t, fakePodControl, 0, 0, 0)
+}
diff --git a/test/integration/replicationcontroller_test.go b/test/integration/replicationcontroller_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..81f0c622049
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/replicationcontroller_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,443 @@
+// +build integration,!no-etcd
+
+/*
+Copyright 2015 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package integration
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/unversioned"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
+	internalclientset "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/clientset_generated/internalclientset"
+	clientset "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/clientset_generated/release_1_3"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/restclient"
+	controllerframwork "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/controller/framework"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/controller/framework/informers"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/controller/replication"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util/wait"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/test/integration/framework"
+)
+
+func testLabels() map[string]string {
+	return map[string]string{"name": "test"}
+}
+
+func newRC(name, namespace string, replicas int) *v1.ReplicationController {
+	replicasCopy := int32(replicas)
+	return &v1.ReplicationController{
+		TypeMeta: unversioned.TypeMeta{
+			Kind:       "ReplicationController",
+			APIVersion: "v1",
+		},
+		ObjectMeta: v1.ObjectMeta{
+			Namespace: namespace,
+			Name:      name,
+		},
+		Spec: v1.ReplicationControllerSpec{
+			Selector: testLabels(),
+			Replicas: &replicasCopy,
+			Template: &v1.PodTemplateSpec{
+				ObjectMeta: v1.ObjectMeta{
+					Labels: testLabels(),
+				},
+				Spec: v1.PodSpec{
+					Containers: []v1.Container{
+						{
+							Name:  "fake-name",
+							Image: "fakeimage",
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func newMatchingPod(podName, namespace string) *v1.Pod {
+	return &v1.Pod{
+		TypeMeta: unversioned.TypeMeta{
+			Kind:       "Pod",
+			APIVersion: "v1",
+		},
+		ObjectMeta: v1.ObjectMeta{
+			Name:      podName,
+			Namespace: namespace,
+			Labels:    testLabels(),
+		},
+		Spec: v1.PodSpec{
+			Containers: []v1.Container{
+				{
+					Name:  "fake-name",
+					Image: "fakeimage",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		Status: v1.PodStatus{
+			Phase: v1.PodRunning,
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+// verifyRemainingObjects verifies if the number of the remaining replication
+// controllers and pods are rcNum and podNum. It returns error if the
+// communication with the API server fails.
+func verifyRemainingObjects(t *testing.T, clientSet clientset.Interface, namespace string, rcNum, podNum int) (bool, error) {
+	rcClient := clientSet.Core().ReplicationControllers(namespace)
+	podClient := clientSet.Core().Pods(namespace)
+	pods, err := podClient.List(api.ListOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("Failed to list pods: %v", err)
+	}
+	var ret = true
+	if len(pods.Items) != podNum {
+		ret = false
+		t.Logf("expect %d pods, got %d pods", podNum, len(pods.Items))
+	}
+	rcs, err := rcClient.List(api.ListOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("Failed to list replication controllers: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(rcs.Items) != rcNum {
+		ret = false
+		t.Logf("expect %d RCs, got %d RCs", rcNum, len(rcs.Items))
+	}
+	return ret, nil
+}
+
+func rmSetup(t *testing.T, enableGarbageCollector bool) (*httptest.Server, *replication.ReplicationManager, controllerframwork.SharedIndexInformer, clientset.Interface) {
+	masterConfig := framework.NewIntegrationTestMasterConfig()
+	masterConfig.EnableCoreControllers = false
+	_, s := framework.RunAMaster(masterConfig)
+
+	config := restclient.Config{Host: s.URL}
+	clientSet, err := clientset.NewForConfig(&config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Error in create clientset: %v", err)
+	}
+	resyncPeriod := 12 * time.Hour
+	resyncPeriodFunc := func() time.Duration {
+		return resyncPeriod
+	}
+	podInformer := informers.CreateSharedPodIndexInformer(internalclientset.NewForConfigOrDie(restclient.AddUserAgent(&config, "pod-informer")), resyncPeriod)
+	rm := replication.NewReplicationManager(
+		podInformer,
+		internalclientset.NewForConfigOrDie(restclient.AddUserAgent(&config, "replication-controller")),
+		resyncPeriodFunc,
+		replication.BurstReplicas,
+		4096,
+		enableGarbageCollector,
+	)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create replication manager")
+	}
+	return s, rm, podInformer, clientSet
+}
+
+func TestAdoption(t *testing.T) {
+	var trueVar = true
+	testCases := []struct {
+		name                    string
+		existingOwnerReferences func(rc *v1.ReplicationController) []v1.OwnerReference
+		expectedOwnerReferences func(rc *v1.ReplicationController) []v1.OwnerReference
+	}{
+		{
+			"pod refers rc as an owner, not a controller",
+			func(rc *v1.ReplicationController) []v1.OwnerReference {
+				return []v1.OwnerReference{{UID: rc.UID, Name: rc.Name, APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController"}}
+			},
+			func(rc *v1.ReplicationController) []v1.OwnerReference {
+				return []v1.OwnerReference{{UID: rc.UID, Name: rc.Name, APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController", Controller: &trueVar}}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			"pod doesn't have owner references",
+			func(rc *v1.ReplicationController) []v1.OwnerReference {
+				return []v1.OwnerReference{}
+			},
+			func(rc *v1.ReplicationController) []v1.OwnerReference {
+				return []v1.OwnerReference{{UID: rc.UID, Name: rc.Name, APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController", Controller: &trueVar}}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			"pod refers rc as a controller",
+			func(rc *v1.ReplicationController) []v1.OwnerReference {
+				return []v1.OwnerReference{{UID: rc.UID, Name: rc.Name, APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController", Controller: &trueVar}}
+			},
+			func(rc *v1.ReplicationController) []v1.OwnerReference {
+				return []v1.OwnerReference{{UID: rc.UID, Name: rc.Name, APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController", Controller: &trueVar}}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			"pod refers other rc as the controller, refers the rc as an owner",
+			func(rc *v1.ReplicationController) []v1.OwnerReference {
+				return []v1.OwnerReference{
+					{UID: "1", Name: "anotherRC", APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController", Controller: &trueVar},
+					{UID: rc.UID, Name: rc.Name, APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController"},
+				}
+			},
+			func(rc *v1.ReplicationController) []v1.OwnerReference {
+				return []v1.OwnerReference{
+					{UID: "1", Name: "anotherRC", APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController", Controller: &trueVar},
+					{UID: rc.UID, Name: rc.Name, APIVersion: "v1", Kind: "ReplicationController"},
+				}
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	for i, tc := range testCases {
+		s, rm, podInformer, clientSet := rmSetup(t, true)
+		ns := framework.CreateTestingNamespace(fmt.Sprintf("adoption-%d", i), s, t)
+		defer framework.DeleteTestingNamespace(ns, s, t)
+
+		rcClient := clientSet.Core().ReplicationControllers(ns.Name)
+		podClient := clientSet.Core().Pods(ns.Name)
+		const rcName = "rc"
+		rc, err := rcClient.Create(newRC(rcName, ns.Name, 1))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to create replication controller: %v", err)
+		}
+		pod := newMatchingPod("pod1", ns.Name)
+		pod.OwnerReferences = tc.existingOwnerReferences(rc)
+		_, err = podClient.Create(pod)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to create Pod: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		stopCh := make(chan struct{})
+		go podInformer.Run(stopCh)
+		go rm.Run(5, stopCh)
+		if err := wait.Poll(10*time.Second, 60*time.Second, func() (bool, error) {
+			updatedPod, err := podClient.Get(pod.Name)
+			if err != nil {
+				return false, err
+			}
+			if e, a := tc.expectedOwnerReferences(rc), updatedPod.OwnerReferences; reflect.DeepEqual(e, a) {
+				return true, nil
+			} else {
+				t.Logf("ownerReferences don't match, expect %v, got %v", e, a)
+				return false, nil
+			}
+		}); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		close(stopCh)
+	}
+}
+
+func createRCsPods(t *testing.T, clientSet clientset.Interface, rcs []*v1.ReplicationController, pods []*v1.Pod, ns string) {
+	rcClient := clientSet.Core().ReplicationControllers(ns)
+	podClient := clientSet.Core().Pods(ns)
+	for _, rc := range rcs {
+		if _, err := rcClient.Create(rc); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to create replication controller %s: %v", rc.Name, err)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, pod := range pods {
+		if _, err := podClient.Create(pod); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to create pod %s: %v", pod.Name, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func waitRCStable(t *testing.T, clientSet clientset.Interface, rc *v1.ReplicationController, ns string) {
+	rcClient := clientSet.Core().ReplicationControllers(ns)
+	if err := wait.Poll(10*time.Second, 60*time.Second, func() (bool, error) {
+		updatedRC, err := rcClient.Get(rc.Name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+		if updatedRC.Status.Replicas != *rc.Spec.Replicas {
+			return false, nil
+		} else {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUpdateSelectorToAdopt(t *testing.T) {
+	// We have pod1, pod2 and rc. rc.spec.replicas=1. At first rc.Selector
+	// matches pod1 only; change the selector to match pod2 as well. Verify
+	// there is only one pod left.
+	s, rm, podInformer, clientSet := rmSetup(t, true)
+	ns := framework.CreateTestingNamespace("update-selector-to-adopt", s, t)
+	defer framework.DeleteTestingNamespace(ns, s, t)
+	rc := newRC("rc", ns.Name, 1)
+	// let rc's selector only match pod1
+	rc.Spec.Selector["uniqueKey"] = "1"
+	rc.Spec.Template.Labels["uniqueKey"] = "1"
+	pod1 := newMatchingPod("pod1", ns.Name)
+	pod1.Labels["uniqueKey"] = "1"
+	pod2 := newMatchingPod("pod2", ns.Name)
+	pod2.Labels["uniqueKey"] = "2"
+	createRCsPods(t, clientSet, []*v1.ReplicationController{rc}, []*v1.Pod{pod1, pod2}, ns.Name)
+
+	stopCh := make(chan struct{})
+	go podInformer.Run(stopCh)
+	go rm.Run(5, stopCh)
+	waitRCStable(t, clientSet, rc, ns.Name)
+
+	// change the rc's selector to match both pods
+	patch := `{"spec":{"selector":{"uniqueKey":null}}}`
+	rcClient := clientSet.Core().ReplicationControllers(ns.Name)
+	rc, err := rcClient.Patch(rc.Name, api.StrategicMergePatchType, []byte(patch))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to patch replication controller: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Logf("patched rc = %#v", rc)
+	// wait for the rc select both pods and delete one of them
+	if err := wait.Poll(10*time.Second, 60*time.Second, func() (bool, error) {
+		return verifyRemainingObjects(t, clientSet, ns.Name, 1, 1)
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	close(stopCh)
+}
+
+func TestUpdateSelectorToRemoveControllerRef(t *testing.T) {
+	// We have pod1, pod2 and rc. rc.spec.replicas=2. At first rc.Selector
+	// matches pod1 and pod2; change the selector to match only pod1. Verify
+	// that rc creates one more pod, so there are 3 pods. Also verify that
+	// pod2's controllerRef is cleared.
+	s, rm, podInformer, clientSet := rmSetup(t, true)
+	ns := framework.CreateTestingNamespace("update-selector-to-remove-controllerref", s, t)
+	defer framework.DeleteTestingNamespace(ns, s, t)
+	rc := newRC("rc", ns.Name, 2)
+	pod1 := newMatchingPod("pod1", ns.Name)
+	pod1.Labels["uniqueKey"] = "1"
+	pod2 := newMatchingPod("pod2", ns.Name)
+	pod2.Labels["uniqueKey"] = "2"
+	createRCsPods(t, clientSet, []*v1.ReplicationController{rc}, []*v1.Pod{pod1, pod2}, ns.Name)
+
+	stopCh := make(chan struct{})
+	go podInformer.Run(stopCh)
+	go rm.Run(5, stopCh)
+	waitRCStable(t, clientSet, rc, ns.Name)
+
+	// change the rc's selector to match both pods
+	patch := `{"spec":{"selector":{"uniqueKey":"1"},"template":{"metadata":{"labels":{"uniqueKey":"1"}}}}}`
+	rcClient := clientSet.Core().ReplicationControllers(ns.Name)
+	rc, err := rcClient.Patch(rc.Name, api.StrategicMergePatchType, []byte(patch))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to patch replication controller: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Logf("patched rc = %#v", rc)
+	// wait for the rc to create one more pod
+	if err := wait.Poll(10*time.Second, 60*time.Second, func() (bool, error) {
+		return verifyRemainingObjects(t, clientSet, ns.Name, 1, 3)
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	podClient := clientSet.Core().Pods(ns.Name)
+	pod2, err = podClient.Get(pod2.Name)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to get pod2: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(pod2.OwnerReferences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("ownerReferences of pod2 is not cleared, got %#v", pod2.OwnerReferences)
+	}
+	close(stopCh)
+}
+
+func TestUpdateLabelToRemoveControllerRef(t *testing.T) {
+	// We have pod1, pod2 and rc. rc.spec.replicas=2. At first rc.Selector
+	// matches pod1 and pod2; change pod2's lables to non-matching. Verify
+	// that rc creates one more pod, so there are 3 pods. Also verify that
+	// pod2's controllerRef is cleared.
+	s, rm, podInformer, clientSet := rmSetup(t, true)
+	ns := framework.CreateTestingNamespace("update-label-to-remove-controllerref", s, t)
+	defer framework.DeleteTestingNamespace(ns, s, t)
+	rc := newRC("rc", ns.Name, 2)
+	pod1 := newMatchingPod("pod1", ns.Name)
+	pod2 := newMatchingPod("pod2", ns.Name)
+	createRCsPods(t, clientSet, []*v1.ReplicationController{rc}, []*v1.Pod{pod1, pod2}, ns.Name)
+
+	stopCh := make(chan struct{})
+	go podInformer.Run(stopCh)
+	go rm.Run(5, stopCh)
+	waitRCStable(t, clientSet, rc, ns.Name)
+
+	// change the rc's selector to match both pods
+	patch := `{"metadata":{"labels":{"name":null}}}`
+	podClient := clientSet.Core().Pods(ns.Name)
+	pod2, err := podClient.Patch(pod2.Name, api.StrategicMergePatchType, []byte(patch))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to patch pod2: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Logf("patched pod2 = %#v", pod2)
+	// wait for the rc to create one more pod
+	if err := wait.Poll(10*time.Second, 60*time.Second, func() (bool, error) {
+		return verifyRemainingObjects(t, clientSet, ns.Name, 1, 3)
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	pod2, err = podClient.Get(pod2.Name)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to get pod2: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(pod2.OwnerReferences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("ownerReferences of pod2 is not cleared, got %#v", pod2.OwnerReferences)
+	}
+	close(stopCh)
+}
+
+func TestUpdateLabelToBeAdopted(t *testing.T) {
+	// We have pod1, pod2 and rc. rc.spec.replicas=1. At first rc.Selector
+	// matches pod1 only; change pod2's lables to be matching. Verify the RC
+	// controller adopts pod2 and delete one of them, so there is only 1 pod
+	// left.
+	s, rm, podInformer, clientSet := rmSetup(t, true)
+	ns := framework.CreateTestingNamespace("update-label-to-be-adopted", s, t)
+	defer framework.DeleteTestingNamespace(ns, s, t)
+	rc := newRC("rc", ns.Name, 1)
+	// let rc's selector only matches pod1
+	rc.Spec.Selector["uniqueKey"] = "1"
+	rc.Spec.Template.Labels["uniqueKey"] = "1"
+	pod1 := newMatchingPod("pod1", ns.Name)
+	pod1.Labels["uniqueKey"] = "1"
+	pod2 := newMatchingPod("pod2", ns.Name)
+	pod2.Labels["uniqueKey"] = "2"
+	createRCsPods(t, clientSet, []*v1.ReplicationController{rc}, []*v1.Pod{pod1, pod2}, ns.Name)
+
+	stopCh := make(chan struct{})
+	go podInformer.Run(stopCh)
+	go rm.Run(5, stopCh)
+	waitRCStable(t, clientSet, rc, ns.Name)
+
+	// change the rc's selector to match both pods
+	patch := `{"metadata":{"labels":{"uniqueKey":"1"}}}`
+	podClient := clientSet.Core().Pods(ns.Name)
+	pod2, err := podClient.Patch(pod2.Name, api.StrategicMergePatchType, []byte(patch))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to patch pod2: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Logf("patched pod2 = %#v", pod2)
+	// wait for the rc to select both pods and delete one of them
+	if err := wait.Poll(10*time.Second, 60*time.Second, func() (bool, error) {
+		return verifyRemainingObjects(t, clientSet, ns.Name, 1, 1)
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	close(stopCh)
+}