diff --git a/celery/platforms.py b/celery/platforms.py
index 6203f2c29b5..1375fd82c0b 100644
--- a/celery/platforms.py
+++ b/celery/platforms.py
@@ -186,6 +186,9 @@ def remove_if_stale(self):
         if not pid:
             self.remove()
             return True
+        if pid == os.getpid():
+            # this can be common in k8s pod with PID of 1 - don't kill
+            return True
 
         try:
             os.kill(pid, 0)
diff --git a/t/unit/utils/test_platforms.py b/t/unit/utils/test_platforms.py
index ab1a9436543..3f4e47ae339 100644
--- a/t/unit/utils/test_platforms.py
+++ b/t/unit/utils/test_platforms.py
@@ -689,6 +689,15 @@ def test_remove_if_stale_no_pidfile(self):
         assert p.remove_if_stale()
         p.remove.assert_called_with()
 
+    def test_remove_if_stale_same_pid(self):
+        p = Pidfile('/var/pid')
+        p.read_pid = Mock()
+        p.read_pid.return_value = os.getpid()
+        p.remove = Mock()
+
+        assert p.remove_if_stale()
+        p.remove.assert_not_called()
+
     @patch('os.fsync')
     @patch('os.getpid')
     @patch('os.open')