diff --git a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go
index 8697214e09c..233805ddce5 100644
--- a/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go
+++ b/cmd/kube-controller-manager/app/controllermanager.go
@@ -169,7 +169,9 @@ func Run(s *options.CMServer) error {
 	}
 
 	if !s.LeaderElection.LeaderElect {
-		run(nil)
+		stopCh := make(chan struct{})
+		defer close(stopCh)
+		run(stopCh)
 		panic("unreachable")
 	}