diff --git a/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection.go b/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection.go
index eb72b2517b..940e716175 100644
--- a/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection.go
+++ b/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection.go
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ func (le *LeaderElector) release() bool {
 	if !le.IsLeader() {
 		return true
 	}
-	now := metav1.Now()
+	now := metav1.NewTime(le.clock.Now())
 	leaderElectionRecord := rl.LeaderElectionRecord{
 		LeaderTransitions:    le.observedRecord.LeaderTransitions,
 		LeaseDurationSeconds: 1,
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ func (le *LeaderElector) release() bool {
 // else it tries to renew the lease if it has already been acquired. Returns true
 // on success else returns false.
 func (le *LeaderElector) tryAcquireOrRenew(ctx context.Context) bool {
-	now := metav1.Now()
+	now := metav1.NewTime(le.clock.Now())
 	leaderElectionRecord := rl.LeaderElectionRecord{
 		HolderIdentity:       le.config.Lock.Identity(),
 		LeaseDurationSeconds: int(le.config.LeaseDuration / time.Second),
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ func (le *LeaderElector) tryAcquireOrRenew(ctx context.Context) bool {
 		le.observedRawRecord = oldLeaderElectionRawRecord
 	}
 	if len(oldLeaderElectionRecord.HolderIdentity) > 0 &&
-		le.observedTime.Add(le.config.LeaseDuration).After(now.Time) &&
+		le.observedTime.Add(time.Second*time.Duration(oldLeaderElectionRecord.LeaseDurationSeconds)).After(now.Time) &&
 		!le.IsLeader() {
 		klog.V(4).Infof("lock is held by %v and has not yet expired", oldLeaderElectionRecord.HolderIdentity)
 		return false
diff --git a/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection_test.go b/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection_test.go
index ea04765897..aa0bd61b47 100644
--- a/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection_test.go
+++ b/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection_test.go
@@ -74,13 +74,15 @@ type Reactor struct {
 }
 
 func testTryAcquireOrRenew(t *testing.T, objectType string) {
-	future := time.Now().Add(1000 * time.Hour)
-	past := time.Now().Add(-1000 * time.Hour)
+	clock := clock.RealClock{}
+	future := clock.Now().Add(1000 * time.Hour)
+	past := clock.Now().Add(-1000 * time.Hour)
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		name           string
 		observedRecord rl.LeaderElectionRecord
 		observedTime   time.Time
+		retryAfter     time.Duration
 		reactors       []Reactor
 		expectedEvents []string
 
@@ -127,6 +129,33 @@ func testTryAcquireOrRenew(t *testing.T, objectType string) {
 			transitionLeader: true,
 			outHolder:        "baz",
 		},
+		{
+			name: "acquire from led object with the lease duration seconds",
+			reactors: []Reactor{
+				{
+					verb: "get",
+					reaction: func(action fakeclient.Action) (handled bool, ret runtime.Object, err error) {
+						return true, createLockObject(t, objectType, action.GetNamespace(), action.(fakeclient.GetAction).GetName(), &rl.LeaderElectionRecord{HolderIdentity: "bing", LeaseDurationSeconds: 3}), nil
+					},
+				},
+				{
+					verb: "get",
+					reaction: func(action fakeclient.Action) (handled bool, ret runtime.Object, err error) {
+						return true, createLockObject(t, objectType, action.GetNamespace(), action.(fakeclient.GetAction).GetName(), &rl.LeaderElectionRecord{HolderIdentity: "bing", LeaseDurationSeconds: 3}), nil
+					},
+				},
+				{
+					verb: "update",
+					reaction: func(action fakeclient.Action) (handled bool, ret runtime.Object, err error) {
+						return true, action.(fakeclient.CreateAction).GetObject(), nil
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			retryAfter:       3 * time.Second,
+			expectSuccess:    true,
+			transitionLeader: true,
+			outHolder:        "baz",
+		},
 		{
 			name: "acquire from unled object",
 			reactors: []Reactor{
@@ -283,10 +312,17 @@ func testTryAcquireOrRenew(t *testing.T, objectType string) {
 				observedRecord:    test.observedRecord,
 				observedRawRecord: observedRawRecord,
 				observedTime:      test.observedTime,
-				clock:             clock.RealClock{},
+				clock:             clock,
 			}
 			if test.expectSuccess != le.tryAcquireOrRenew(context.Background()) {
-				t.Errorf("unexpected result of tryAcquireOrRenew: [succeeded=%v]", !test.expectSuccess)
+				if test.retryAfter != 0 {
+					time.Sleep(test.retryAfter)
+					if test.expectSuccess != le.tryAcquireOrRenew(context.Background()) {
+						t.Errorf("unexpected result of tryAcquireOrRenew: [succeeded=%v]", !test.expectSuccess)
+					}
+				} else {
+					t.Errorf("unexpected result of tryAcquireOrRenew: [succeeded=%v]", !test.expectSuccess)
+				}
 			}
 
 			le.observedRecord.AcquireTime = metav1.Time{}
@@ -378,8 +414,9 @@ func GetRawRecordOrDie(t *testing.T, objectType string, ler rl.LeaderElectionRec
 }
 
 func testTryAcquireOrRenewMultiLock(t *testing.T, objectType string) {
-	future := time.Now().Add(1000 * time.Hour)
-	past := time.Now().Add(-1000 * time.Hour)
+	clock := clock.RealClock{}
+	future := clock.Now().Add(1000 * time.Hour)
+	past := clock.Now().Add(-1000 * time.Hour)
 	primaryType, secondaryType := multiLockType(t, objectType)
 	tests := []struct {
 		name              string
@@ -838,7 +875,7 @@ func testTryAcquireOrRenewMultiLock(t *testing.T, objectType string) {
 				observedRecord:    test.observedRecord,
 				observedRawRecord: test.observedRawRecord,
 				observedTime:      test.observedTime,
-				clock:             clock.RealClock{},
+				clock:             clock,
 			}
 			if test.expectSuccess != le.tryAcquireOrRenew(context.Background()) {
 				t.Errorf("unexpected result of tryAcquireOrRenew: [succeeded=%v]", !test.expectSuccess)