diff --git a/pkg/controllers/nodeclaim/expiration/controller.go b/pkg/controllers/nodeclaim/expiration/controller.go
index fb39d39705..5681475253 100644
--- a/pkg/controllers/nodeclaim/expiration/controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controllers/nodeclaim/expiration/controller.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package expiration
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
@@ -46,6 +47,9 @@ func NewController(clk clock.Clock, kubeClient client.Client) *Controller {
 }
 
 func (c *Controller) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, nodeClaim *v1.NodeClaim) (reconcile.Result, error) {
+	if !nodeClaim.DeletionTimestamp.IsZero() {
+		return reconcile.Result{}, nil
+	}
 	// From here there are three scenarios to handle:
 	// 1. If ExpireAfter is not configured, exit expiration loop
 	if nodeClaim.Spec.ExpireAfter.Duration == nil {
@@ -59,7 +63,7 @@ func (c *Controller) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, nodeClaim *v1.NodeClaim) (re
 	}
 	// 3. Otherwise, if the NodeClaim is expired we can forcefully expire the nodeclaim (by deleting it)
 	if err := c.kubeClient.Delete(ctx, nodeClaim); err != nil {
-		return reconcile.Result{}, err
+		return reconcile.Result{}, client.IgnoreNotFound(err)
 	}
 	// 4. The deletion timestamp has successfully been set for the NodeClaim, update relevant metrics.
 	log.FromContext(ctx).V(1).Info("deleting expired nodeclaim")
@@ -68,12 +72,15 @@ func (c *Controller) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, nodeClaim *v1.NodeClaim) (re
 		metrics.NodePoolLabel:     nodeClaim.Labels[v1.NodePoolLabelKey],
 		metrics.CapacityTypeLabel: nodeClaim.Labels[v1.CapacityTypeLabelKey],
 	}).Inc()
+	// We sleep here after the delete operation since we want to ensure that we are able to read our own writes so that
+	// we avoid duplicating metrics and log lines due to quick re-queues.
+	// USE CAUTION when determining whether to increase this timeout or remove this line
+	time.Sleep(time.Second)
 	return reconcile.Result{}, nil
 }
 
 func (c *Controller) Register(_ context.Context, m manager.Manager) error {
-	builder := controllerruntime.NewControllerManagedBy(m)
-	return builder.
+	return controllerruntime.NewControllerManagedBy(m).
 		Named("nodeclaim.expiration").
 		For(&v1.NodeClaim{}).
 		Complete(reconcile.AsReconciler(m.GetClient(), c))
diff --git a/pkg/controllers/nodeclaim/expiration/suite_test.go b/pkg/controllers/nodeclaim/expiration/suite_test.go
index 1f7851c916..fc152533ca 100644
--- a/pkg/controllers/nodeclaim/expiration/suite_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controllers/nodeclaim/expiration/suite_test.go
@@ -164,4 +164,22 @@ var _ = Describe("Expiration", func() {
 		result := ExpectObjectReconciled(ctx, env.Client, expirationController, nodeClaim)
 		Expect(result.RequeueAfter).To(BeNumerically("~", time.Second*100, time.Second))
 	})
+	It("shouldn't expire the same NodeClaim multiple times", func() {
+		nodeClaim.ObjectMeta.Finalizers = append(nodeClaim.ObjectMeta.Finalizers, "test-finalizer")
+		ExpectApplied(ctx, env.Client, nodePool, nodeClaim)
+
+		// step forward to make the node expired
+		fakeClock.Step(60 * time.Second)
+		ExpectObjectReconciled(ctx, env.Client, expirationController, nodeClaim)
+		ExpectExists(ctx, env.Client, nodeClaim)
+		ExpectMetricCounterValue(metrics.NodeClaimsDisruptedTotal, 1, map[string]string{
+			metrics.ReasonLabel: metrics.ExpiredReason,
+			"nodepool":          nodePool.Name,
+		})
+		ExpectObjectReconciled(ctx, env.Client, expirationController, nodeClaim)
+		ExpectMetricCounterValue(metrics.NodeClaimsDisruptedTotal, 1, map[string]string{
+			metrics.ReasonLabel: metrics.ExpiredReason,
+			"nodepool":          nodePool.Name,
+		})
+	})
 })