diff --git a/app/models/miq_server/worker_management/kubernetes.rb b/app/models/miq_server/worker_management/kubernetes.rb
index 3f949b6018a..a37b27901a4 100644
--- a/app/models/miq_server/worker_management/kubernetes.rb
+++ b/app/models/miq_server/worker_management/kubernetes.rb
@@ -14,8 +14,15 @@ def sync_monitor
   end
 
   def sync_from_system
-    ensure_kube_monitors_started
+    # All miq_server instances have to reside on the same Kubernetes cluster, so
+    # we only have to sync the list of pods and deployments once
+    ensure_kube_monitors_started if my_server_is_primary?
+
+    # Before syncing the workers check for any orphaned worker rows that don't have
+    # a current pod and delete them
     cleanup_orphaned_worker_rows
+
+    # Update worker deployments with updated settings such as cpu/memory limits
     sync_deployment_settings
   end
 
@@ -87,6 +94,12 @@ def constraints_changed?(current, desired)
 
   private
 
+  # In podified there is only one "primary" miq_server whose zone is "default", the
+  # other miq_server instances are simply to allow for additional zones
+  def my_server_is_primary?
+    my_server.zone&.name == "default"
+  end
+
   def cpu_value_eql?(current, desired)
     # Convert to millicores if not already converted: "1" -> 1000; "1000m" -> 1000
     current = current.to_s[-1] == "m" ? current.to_f : current.to_f * 1000
@@ -131,6 +144,8 @@ def ensure_kube_monitors_started
   end
 
   def delete_failed_deployments
+    return unless my_server_is_primary?
+
     failed_deployments.each do |failed|
       orchestrator.delete_deployment(failed)
     end
diff --git a/lib/workers/evm_server.rb b/lib/workers/evm_server.rb
index ce51b445d72..1a30ead7246 100644
--- a/lib/workers/evm_server.rb
+++ b/lib/workers/evm_server.rb
@@ -87,7 +87,16 @@ def self.start(*args)
   private
 
   def servers_from_db
-    MiqEnvironment::Command.is_podified? ? MiqServer.in_my_region.to_a : [MiqServer.my_server(true)].compact
+    my_server = MiqServer.my_server(true)
+
+    if MiqEnvironment::Command.is_podified?
+      # Ensure that the "primary" miq_server is first in the list of servers.
+      # This ensures that any work that is only done on the primary is completed
+      # before processing the rest of the servers.
+      MiqServer.in_my_region.to_a.unshift(my_server).uniq.compact
+    else
+      [my_server].compact
+    end
   end
 
   def set_process_title
diff --git a/spec/models/miq_server/worker_management/kubernetes_spec.rb b/spec/models/miq_server/worker_management/kubernetes_spec.rb
index ac619d08f9d..bbfa7319332 100644
--- a/spec/models/miq_server/worker_management/kubernetes_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/miq_server/worker_management/kubernetes_spec.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 require 'recursive-open-struct'
 
 RSpec.describe MiqServer::WorkerManagement::Kubernetes do
-  let(:server)          { EvmSpecHelper.create_guid_miq_server_zone.second }
+  let(:server)          { FactoryBot.create(:miq_server_in_default_zone).tap { |s| EvmSpecHelper.stub_as_local_server(s) } }
   let(:orchestrator)    { double("ContainerOrchestrator") }
   let(:deployment_name) { '1-generic-79bb8b8bb5-8ggbg' }
   let(:pod_label)       { '1-generic' }