diff --git a/cmd/manager/main.go b/cmd/manager/main.go
index 459e77dead..f978e43f77 100644
--- a/cmd/manager/main.go
+++ b/cmd/manager/main.go
@@ -34,6 +34,13 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
 )
 
+// The default durations for the leader electrion operations.
+var (
+	leaseDuration = 120 * time.Second
+	renewDealine  = 110 * time.Second
+	retryPeriod   = 20 * time.Second
+)
+
 func main() {
 	printVersion := flag.Bool(
 		"version",
@@ -61,7 +68,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	leaderElectLeaseDuration := flag.Duration(
 		"leader-elect-lease-duration",
-		90*time.Second,
+		leaseDuration,
 		"The duration that non-leader candidates will wait after observing a leadership renewal until attempting to acquire leadership of a led but unrenewed leader slot. This is effectively the maximum duration that a leader can be stopped before it is replaced by another candidate. This is only applicable if leader election is enabled.",
 	)
 
@@ -90,6 +97,9 @@ func main() {
 		SyncPeriod:              &syncPeriod,
 		// Disable metrics serving
 		MetricsBindAddress: "0",
+		// Slow the default retry and renew election rate to reduce etcd writes at idle: BZ 1858400
+		RetryPeriod:   &retryPeriod,
+		RenewDeadline: &renewDealine,
 	}
 
 	if *watchNamespace != "" {