diff --git a/pkg/leaderelection/leader_election.go b/pkg/leaderelection/leader_election.go
index 9e13fd7968..d6f56d55b8 100644
--- a/pkg/leaderelection/leader_election.go
+++ b/pkg/leaderelection/leader_election.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package leaderelection
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
@@ -52,9 +53,9 @@ func NewResourceLock(config *rest.Config, recorderProvider recorder.Provider, op
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 
-	// Default the LeaderElectionID
+	// LeaderElectionID must be provided to prevent clashes
 	if options.LeaderElectionID == "" {
-		options.LeaderElectionID = "controller-leader-election-helper"
+		return nil, errors.New("LeaderElectionID must be configured")
 	}
 
 	// Default the namespace (if running in cluster)
diff --git a/pkg/manager/manager_test.go b/pkg/manager/manager_test.go
index 4141e56593..0dc3d5692e 100644
--- a/pkg/manager/manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/manager/manager_test.go
@@ -143,15 +143,16 @@ var _ = Describe("manger.Manager", func() {
 				m, err := New(cfg, Options{
 					LeaderElection:          true,
 					LeaderElectionNamespace: "default",
+					LeaderElectionID:        "test-leader-election-id",
 					newResourceLock: func(config *rest.Config, recorderProvider recorder.Provider, options leaderelection.Options) (resourcelock.Interface, error) {
 						var err error
 						rl, err = leaderelection.NewResourceLock(config, recorderProvider, options)
 						return rl, err
 					},
 				})
-				Expect(m).ToNot(BeNil())
 				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-				Expect(rl.Describe()).To(Equal("default/controller-leader-election-helper"))
+				Expect(m).ToNot(BeNil())
+				Expect(rl.Describe()).To(Equal("default/test-leader-election-id"))
 			})
 
 			It("should return an error if namespace not set and not running in cluster", func() {