diff --git a/policy-controller/k8s/status/src/index.rs b/policy-controller/k8s/status/src/index.rs
index 2213c3e3a036f..ce21926e78679 100644
--- a/policy-controller/k8s/status/src/index.rs
+++ b/policy-controller/k8s/status/src/index.rs
@@ -371,30 +371,48 @@ impl Index {
     /// Controller applies patches or the write leaseholder changes, all
     /// routes have an up-to-date status.
     pub async fn run(index: Arc<RwLock<Self>>, reconciliation_period: Duration) {
-        // Clone the claims watch out of the index. This will immediately
-        // drop the read lock on the index so that it is not held for the
-        // lifetime of this function.
-        let mut claims = index.read().claims.clone();
+        // Extract what we need from the index so we don't need to lock it for
+        // housekeeping.
+        let (instance, mut claims) = {
+            let idx = index.read();
+            (idx.name.clone(), idx.claims.clone())
+        };
+
+        // The timer is reset when this instance becomes the leader and it is
+        // polled as long as it is the leader. The timer ensures that
+        // reconciliation happens at consistent intervals after leadership is
+        // acquired.
+        let mut timer = time::interval(reconciliation_period);
+        timer.set_missed_tick_behavior(time::MissedTickBehavior::Delay);
 
+        let mut was_leader = false;
         loop {
+            // Refresh the state of the lease on each iteration to ensure we're
+            // checking expiration.
+            let is_leader = claims.borrow_and_update().is_current_for(&instance);
+            if is_leader && !was_leader {
+                tracing::debug!("Became leader; resetting timer");
+                timer.reset_immediately();
+            }
+            was_leader = is_leader;
+
             tokio::select! {
+                // Eagerly process claim updates to track leadership changes. If
+                // the claim changes, refesh the leadership status.
+                biased;
                 res = claims.changed() => {
                     res.expect("Claims watch must not be dropped");
-                    tracing::trace!("Lease updated");
+                    if tracing::enabled!(tracing::Level::TRACE) {
+                        let c = claims.borrow();
+                        tracing::trace!(claim=?*c, "Changed");
+                    }
                 }
-                _ = time::sleep(reconciliation_period) => {}
-            }
-
-            // The claimant has changed, or we should attempt to reconcile all
-            //routes to account for any errors. In either case, we should
-            // only proceed if we are the current leader.
-            let claims = claims.borrow_and_update();
-            let index = index.read();
 
-            if !claims.is_current_for(&index.name) {
-                continue;
+                // Only wait for the timer if this instance is the leader.
+                _ = timer.tick(), if is_leader => {
+                    index.read().reconcile_if_leader();
+                }
             }
-            index.reconcile();
         }
     }
 
@@ -784,16 +802,16 @@ impl Index {
         make_patch(id, status)
     }
 
+    /// If this instance is the leader, reconcile the statuses for all resources
+    /// for which we control the status.
     fn reconcile_if_leader(&self) {
         let lease = self.claims.borrow();
         if !lease.is_current_for(&self.name) {
-            tracing::trace!(%lease.holder, "Reconcilation skipped");
+            tracing::trace!(%lease.holder, ?lease.expiry, "Reconcilation skipped");
             return;
         }
-        self.reconcile();
-    }
+        drop(lease);
 
-    fn reconcile(&self) {
         tracing::trace!(
             egressnetworks = self.egress_networks.len(),
             routes = self.route_refs.len(),