diff --git a/prog/kube-utils/main.go b/prog/kube-utils/main.go
index fd77a8597b..5926394d2b 100644
--- a/prog/kube-utils/main.go
+++ b/prog/kube-utils/main.go
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func reclaimRemovedPeers(kube kubernetes.Interface, weave weaveClient, cml *conf
 				common.Log.Warnln("[kube-peers] not removing myself", peer)
 				continue
 			}
-			changed, err := reclaimPeer(weave, cml, peer.PeerName, myPeerName)
+			changed, err := reclaimPeer(weave, cml, storedPeerList, peer.PeerName, myPeerName)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -125,17 +125,28 @@ func reclaimRemovedPeers(kube kubernetes.Interface, weave weaveClient, cml *conf
 // actions the reclaim.
 // Return a bool to show whether we attempted to change anything,
 // and an error if something went wrong.
-func reclaimPeer(weave weaveClient, cml *configMapAnnotations, peerName string, myPeerName string) (changed bool, err error) {
+func reclaimPeer(weave weaveClient, cml *configMapAnnotations, storedPeerList *peerList, peerName string, myPeerName string) (changed bool, err error) {
 	common.Log.Debugln("[kube-peers] Preparing to remove disappeared peer", peerName)
 	okToRemove := false
+	nonExistentPeer := false
+
 	// 3. Check if there is an existing annotation with key X
-	if existingAnnotation, found := cml.GetAnnotation(KubePeersPrefix + peerName); found {
+	existingAnnotation, found := cml.GetAnnotation(KubePeersPrefix + peerName)
+	if found {
 		common.Log.Debugln("[kube-peers] Existing annotation", existingAnnotation)
 		// 4.   If annotation already contains my identity, ok;
 		if existingAnnotation == myPeerName {
 			okToRemove = true
+		} else {
+			// handle an edge case where peer claimed to own the action to reclaim but no longer
+			// exists hence lock persists foever
+			if !storedPeerList.contains(existingAnnotation) {
+				nonExistentPeer = true
+				common.Log.Debugln("[kube-peers] Existing annotation", existingAnnotation, " has a non-existent peer so owning the reclaim action")
+			}
 		}
-	} else {
+	}
+	if !found || nonExistentPeer {
 		// 5.   If non-existent, write an annotation with key X and contents "my identity"
 		common.Log.Debugln("[kube-peers] Noting I plan to remove ", peerName)
 		if err := cml.UpdateAnnotation(KubePeersPrefix+peerName, myPeerName); err == nil {
diff --git a/prog/kube-utils/peerlist.go b/prog/kube-utils/peerlist.go
index 2573d5a576..f034b2300c 100644
--- a/prog/kube-utils/peerlist.go
+++ b/prog/kube-utils/peerlist.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ type peerInfo struct {
 	NodeName string // Kubernetes node name
 }
 
-func (pl peerList) contains(peerName string) bool {
+func (pl *peerList) contains(peerName string) bool {
 	for _, peer := range pl.Peers {
 		if peer.PeerName == peerName {
 			return true
diff --git a/prog/kube-utils/peerlist_test.go b/prog/kube-utils/peerlist_test.go
index 0a52349421..77866f693b 100644
--- a/prog/kube-utils/peerlist_test.go
+++ b/prog/kube-utils/peerlist_test.go
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func TestPeerListFuzz(t *testing.T) {
 		found := storedPeerList.contains(peerName(i))
 		require.True(t, found, "peer %d not found in stored list", i)
 
-		_, err = reclaimPeer(mockWeave{}, cml, peerName(i), fmt.Sprintf("deleter-%d", i))
+		_, err = reclaimPeer(mockWeave{}, cml, storedPeerList, peerName(i), fmt.Sprintf("deleter-%d", i))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		storedPeerList, err = cml.GetPeerList()