diff --git a/cluster-autoscaler/main.go b/cluster-autoscaler/main.go
index 304bbedd6300..d2f0ab00a569 100644
--- a/cluster-autoscaler/main.go
+++ b/cluster-autoscaler/main.go
@@ -434,10 +434,11 @@ func main() {
 		}
 
 		leaderelection.RunOrDie(ctx.TODO(), leaderelection.LeaderElectionConfig{
-			Lock:          lock,
-			LeaseDuration: leaderElection.LeaseDuration.Duration,
-			RenewDeadline: leaderElection.RenewDeadline.Duration,
-			RetryPeriod:   leaderElection.RetryPeriod.Duration,
+			Lock:            lock,
+			LeaseDuration:   leaderElection.LeaseDuration.Duration,
+			RenewDeadline:   leaderElection.RenewDeadline.Duration,
+			RetryPeriod:     leaderElection.RetryPeriod.Duration,
+			ReleaseOnCancel: true,
 			Callbacks: leaderelection.LeaderCallbacks{
 				OnStartedLeading: func(_ ctx.Context) {
 					// Since we are committing a suicide after losing