diff --git a/controller.go b/controller.go
index 57541c71..ab8468a0 100644
--- a/controller.go
+++ b/controller.go
@@ -219,7 +219,9 @@ func (c *Controller) processNextWorkItem() bool {
 		// Run the syncHandler, passing it the namespace/name string of the
 		// Foo resource to be synced.
 		if err := c.syncHandler(key); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("error syncing '%s': %s", key, err.Error())
+			// Put the item back on the workqueue to handle any transient errors.
+			c.workqueue.AddRateLimited(key)
+			return fmt.Errorf("error syncing '%s': %s, requeuing", key, err.Error())
 		}
 		// Finally, if no error occurs we Forget this item so it does not
 		// get queued again until another change happens.