diff --git a/cmd/manager/main.go b/cmd/manager/main.go
index dea1e7573..600f8afbc 100644
--- a/cmd/manager/main.go
+++ b/cmd/manager/main.go
@@ -40,6 +40,13 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/runtime/signals"
 )
 
+// The default durations for the leader election operations.
+var (
+	leaseDuration = 120 * time.Second
+	renewDeadline = 110 * time.Second
+	retryPeriod   = 20 * time.Second
+)
+
 func main() {
 	klog.InitFlags(nil)
 
@@ -76,7 +83,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	leaderElectLeaseDuration := flag.Duration(
 		"leader-elect-lease-duration",
-		90*time.Second,
+		leaseDuration,
 		"The duration that non-leader candidates will wait after observing a leadership renewal until attempting to acquire leadership of a led but unrenewed leader slot. This is effectively the maximum duration that a leader can be stopped before it is replaced by another candidate. This is only applicable if leader election is enabled.",
 	)
 	flag.Parse()
@@ -104,6 +111,9 @@ func main() {
 		LeaderElectionID:        "controller-leader-election-capbm",
 		LeaderElectionNamespace: *leaderElectResourceNamespace,
 		LeaseDuration:           leaderElectLeaseDuration,
+		// Slow the default retry and renew election rate to reduce etcd writes at idle: BZ 1858400
+		RetryPeriod:   &retryPeriod,
+		RenewDeadline: &renewDeadline,
 	}
 	if *watchNamespace != "" {
 		opts.Namespace = *watchNamespace