diff --git a/pkg/manager/manager.go b/pkg/manager/manager.go
index 686dca1a57..3b59ebb790 100644
--- a/pkg/manager/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/manager/manager.go
@@ -308,9 +308,9 @@ func New(config *rest.Config, options Options) (Manager, error) {
 	}
 
 	// Create the resource lock to enable leader election)
-	leaderConfig := config
-	if options.LeaderElectionConfig != nil {
-		leaderConfig = options.LeaderElectionConfig
+	leaderConfig := options.LeaderElectionConfig
+	if leaderConfig == nil {
+		leaderConfig = rest.CopyConfig(config)
 	}
 	resourceLock, err := options.newResourceLock(leaderConfig, recorderProvider, leaderelection.Options{
 		LeaderElection:             options.LeaderElection,
diff --git a/pkg/manager/manager_test.go b/pkg/manager/manager_test.go
index 8161ad2a70..a494af95d4 100644
--- a/pkg/manager/manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/manager/manager_test.go
@@ -592,6 +592,20 @@ var _ = Describe("manger.Manager", func() {
 				close(done)
 			})
 
+			It("should not manipulate the provided config", func() {
+				originalCfg := rest.CopyConfig(cfg)
+				// The options object is shared by multiple tests, copy it
+				// into our scope so we manipulate it for this testcase only
+				options := options
+				options.newResourceLock = nil
+				m, err := New(cfg, options)
+				Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+				for _, cb := range callbacks {
+					cb(m)
+				}
+				Expect(m.GetConfig()).To(Equal(originalCfg))
+			})
+
 			It("should stop when context is cancelled", func(done Done) {
 				m, err := New(cfg, options)
 				Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())