diff --git a/pkg/registry/core/namespace/storage/storage.go b/pkg/registry/core/namespace/storage/storage.go
index 82f54b72a1..6b7bf0ec5c 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/core/namespace/storage/storage.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/core/namespace/storage/storage.go
@@ -139,7 +139,6 @@ func (r *REST) Delete(ctx context.Context, name string, options *metav1.DeleteOp
 	}
 	if options.Preconditions.UID == nil {
 		options.Preconditions.UID = &namespace.UID
-		options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion = &namespace.ResourceVersion
 	} else if *options.Preconditions.UID != namespace.UID {
 		err = apierrors.NewConflict(
 			api.Resource("namespaces"),
@@ -147,6 +146,9 @@ func (r *REST) Delete(ctx context.Context, name string, options *metav1.DeleteOp
 			fmt.Errorf("Precondition failed: UID in precondition: %v, UID in object meta: %v", *options.Preconditions.UID, namespace.UID),
 		)
 		return nil, false, err
+	}
+	if options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion == nil {
+		options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion = &namespace.ResourceVersion
 	} else if *options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion != namespace.ResourceVersion {
 		err = apierrors.NewConflict(
 			api.Resource("namespaces"),
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver/pkg/registry/customresourcedefinition/etcd.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver/pkg/registry/customresourcedefinition/etcd.go
index fe7c3bafd6..f44a521b21 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver/pkg/registry/customresourcedefinition/etcd.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver/pkg/registry/customresourcedefinition/etcd.go
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ func (r *REST) Delete(ctx context.Context, name string, options *metav1.DeleteOp
 	}
 	if options.Preconditions.UID == nil {
 		options.Preconditions.UID = &crd.UID
-		options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion = &crd.ResourceVersion
 	} else if *options.Preconditions.UID != crd.UID {
 		err = apierrors.NewConflict(
 			apiextensions.Resource("customresourcedefinitions"),
@@ -92,6 +91,9 @@ func (r *REST) Delete(ctx context.Context, name string, options *metav1.DeleteOp
 			fmt.Errorf("Precondition failed: UID in precondition: %v, UID in object meta: %v", *options.Preconditions.UID, crd.UID),
 		)
 		return nil, false, err
+	}
+	if options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion == nil {
+		options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion = &crd.ResourceVersion
 	} else if *options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion != crd.ResourceVersion {
 		err = apierrors.NewConflict(
 			apiextensions.Resource("customresourcedefinitions"),
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/helpers.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/helpers.go
index 9da8008331..910f9bd273 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/helpers.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/helpers.go
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func NewUIDPreconditions(uid string) *Preconditions {
 	return &Preconditions{UID: &u}
 }
 
-// NewPreconditionDeleteOptionsWithResourceVersion returns a DeleteOptions with a UID precondition set.
+// NewPreconditionDeleteOptionsWithResourceVersion returns a DeleteOptions with a ResourceVersion precondition set.
 func NewPreconditionDeleteOptionsWithResourceVersion(rv string) *DeleteOptions {
 	p := Preconditions{ResourceVersion: &rv}
 	return &DeleteOptions{Preconditions: &p}
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/rest/delete.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/rest/delete.go
index 0713464e00..16c9e1b40d 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/rest/delete.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/rest/delete.go
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func BeforeDelete(strategy RESTDeleteStrategy, ctx context.Context, obj runtime.
 			return false, false, errors.NewConflict(schema.GroupResource{Group: gvk.Group, Resource: gvk.Kind}, objectMeta.GetName(), fmt.Errorf("the UID in the precondition (%s) does not match the UID in record (%s). The object might have been deleted and then recreated", *options.Preconditions.UID, objectMeta.GetUID()))
 		}
 		if options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion != nil && *options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion != objectMeta.GetResourceVersion() {
-			return false, false, errors.NewConflict(schema.GroupResource{Group: gvk.Group, Resource: gvk.Kind}, objectMeta.GetName(), fmt.Errorf("the ResourceVersion in the precondition (%s) does not match the ResourceVersion in record (%s). The object might have been deleted and then recreated", *options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion, objectMeta.GetResourceVersion()))
+			return false, false, errors.NewConflict(schema.GroupResource{Group: gvk.Group, Resource: gvk.Kind}, objectMeta.GetName(), fmt.Errorf("the ResourceVersion in the precondition (%s) does not match the ResourceVersion in record (%s). The object might have been modified", *options.Preconditions.ResourceVersion, objectMeta.GetResourceVersion()))
 		}
 	}
 	gracefulStrategy, ok := strategy.(RESTGracefulDeleteStrategy)