diff --git a/pkg/registry/event/registry.go b/pkg/registry/event/registry.go
index a3fba17f6c..fda5e32aa3 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/event/registry.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/event/registry.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func NewEtcdRegistry(h tools.EtcdHelper, ttl uint64) generic.Registry {
 			KeyFunc: func(ctx api.Context, id string) (string, error) {
 				return etcdgeneric.NamespaceKeyFunc(ctx, prefix, id)
 			},
-			TTLFunc: func(runtime.Object, bool) (uint64, error) {
+			TTLFunc: func(runtime.Object, uint64, bool) (uint64, error) {
 				return ttl, nil
 			},
 			Helper: h,
diff --git a/pkg/registry/generic/etcd/etcd.go b/pkg/registry/generic/etcd/etcd.go
index ce2923b47a..ee148c7f43 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/generic/etcd/etcd.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/generic/etcd/etcd.go
@@ -73,8 +73,9 @@ type Etcd struct {
 	ObjectNameFunc func(obj runtime.Object) (string, error)
 
 	// Return the TTL objects should be persisted with. Update is true if this
-	// is an operation against an existing object.
-	TTLFunc func(obj runtime.Object, update bool) (uint64, error)
+	// is an operation against an existing object. Existing is the current TTL
+	// or the default for this operation.
+	TTLFunc func(obj runtime.Object, existing uint64, update bool) (uint64, error)
 
 	// Returns a matcher corresponding to the provided labels and fields.
 	PredicateFunc func(label labels.Selector, field fields.Selector) generic.Matcher
@@ -185,12 +186,9 @@ func (e *Etcd) CreateWithName(ctx api.Context, name string, obj runtime.Object)
 			return err
 		}
 	}
-	ttl := uint64(0)
-	if e.TTLFunc != nil {
-		ttl, err = e.TTLFunc(obj, false)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+	ttl, err := e.calculateTTL(obj, 0, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 	err = e.Helper.CreateObj(key, obj, nil, ttl)
 	err = etcderr.InterpretCreateError(err, e.EndpointName, name)
@@ -215,12 +213,9 @@ func (e *Etcd) Create(ctx api.Context, obj runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, erro
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	ttl := uint64(0)
-	if e.TTLFunc != nil {
-		ttl, err = e.TTLFunc(obj, false)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
+	ttl, err := e.calculateTTL(obj, 0, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	trace.Step("About to create object")
 	out := e.NewFunc()
@@ -250,12 +245,9 @@ func (e *Etcd) UpdateWithName(ctx api.Context, name string, obj runtime.Object)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	ttl := uint64(0)
-	if e.TTLFunc != nil {
-		ttl, err = e.TTLFunc(obj, true)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+	ttl, err := e.calculateTTL(obj, 0, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 	err = e.Helper.SetObj(key, obj, nil, ttl)
 	err = etcderr.InterpretUpdateError(err, e.EndpointName, name)
@@ -282,49 +274,46 @@ func (e *Etcd) Update(ctx api.Context, obj runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, bool
 	// TODO: expose TTL
 	creating := false
 	out := e.NewFunc()
-	err = e.Helper.GuaranteedUpdate(key, out, true, func(existing runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, uint64, error) {
+	err = e.Helper.GuaranteedUpdate(key, out, true, func(existing runtime.Object, res tools.ResponseMeta) (runtime.Object, *uint64, error) {
 		version, err := e.Helper.Versioner.ObjectResourceVersion(existing)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, 0, err
+			return nil, nil, err
 		}
 		if version == 0 {
 			if !e.UpdateStrategy.AllowCreateOnUpdate() {
-				return nil, 0, kubeerr.NewNotFound(e.EndpointName, name)
+				return nil, nil, kubeerr.NewNotFound(e.EndpointName, name)
 			}
 			creating = true
 			if err := rest.BeforeCreate(e.CreateStrategy, ctx, obj); err != nil {
-				return nil, 0, err
+				return nil, nil, err
 			}
-			ttl := uint64(0)
-			if e.TTLFunc != nil {
-				ttl, err = e.TTLFunc(obj, false)
-				if err != nil {
-					return nil, 0, err
-				}
+			ttl, err := e.calculateTTL(obj, 0, false)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, nil, err
 			}
-			return obj, ttl, nil
+			return obj, &ttl, nil
 		}
 
 		creating = false
 		newVersion, err := e.Helper.Versioner.ObjectResourceVersion(obj)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, 0, err
+			return nil, nil, err
 		}
 		if newVersion != version {
 			// TODO: return the most recent version to a client?
-			return nil, 0, kubeerr.NewConflict(e.EndpointName, name, fmt.Errorf("the resource was updated to %d", version))
+			return nil, nil, kubeerr.NewConflict(e.EndpointName, name, fmt.Errorf("the resource was updated to %d", version))
 		}
 		if err := rest.BeforeUpdate(e.UpdateStrategy, ctx, obj, existing); err != nil {
-			return nil, 0, err
+			return nil, nil, err
 		}
-		ttl := uint64(0)
-		if e.TTLFunc != nil {
-			ttl, err = e.TTLFunc(obj, true)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, 0, err
-			}
+		ttl, err := e.calculateTTL(obj, res.TTL, true)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, err
 		}
-		return obj, ttl, nil
+		if int64(ttl) != res.TTL {
+			return obj, &ttl, nil
+		}
+		return obj, nil, nil
 	})
 
 	if err != nil {
@@ -480,3 +469,19 @@ func (e *Etcd) WatchPredicate(ctx api.Context, m generic.Matcher, resourceVersio
 
 	return e.Helper.WatchList(e.KeyRootFunc(ctx), version, filterFunc)
 }
+
+// calculateTTL is a helper for retrieving the updated TTL for an object or returning an error
+// if the TTL cannot be calculated. The defaultTTL is changed to 1 if less than zero. Zero means
+// no TTL, not expire immediately.
+func (e *Etcd) calculateTTL(obj runtime.Object, defaultTTL int64, update bool) (ttl uint64, err error) {
+	// etcd may return a negative TTL for a node if the expiration has not occured due
+	// to server lag - we will ensure that the value is at least set.
+	if defaultTTL < 0 {
+		defaultTTL = 1
+	}
+	ttl = uint64(defaultTTL)
+	if e.TTLFunc != nil {
+		ttl, err = e.TTLFunc(obj, ttl, update)
+	}
+	return ttl, err
+}
diff --git a/pkg/registry/pod/etcd/etcd.go b/pkg/registry/pod/etcd/etcd.go
index cf8e6816ee..05538b9c8b 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/pod/etcd/etcd.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/pod/etcd/etcd.go
@@ -142,13 +142,16 @@ func (r *BindingREST) setPodHostAndAnnotations(ctx api.Context, podID, oldMachin
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	err = r.store.Helper.GuaranteedUpdate(podKey, &api.Pod{}, false, func(obj runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, uint64, error) {
+	err = r.store.Helper.GuaranteedUpdate(podKey, &api.Pod{}, false, tools.SimpleUpdate(func(obj runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, error) {
 		pod, ok := obj.(*api.Pod)
 		if !ok {
-			return nil, 0, fmt.Errorf("unexpected object: %#v", obj)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected object: %#v", obj)
+		}
+		if pod.DeletionTimestamp != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("pod %s is being deleted, cannot be assigned to a host", pod.Name)
 		}
 		if pod.Spec.NodeName != oldMachine {
-			return nil, 0, fmt.Errorf("pod %v is already assigned to node %q", pod.Name, pod.Spec.NodeName)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("pod %v is already assigned to node %q", pod.Name, pod.Spec.NodeName)
 		}
 		pod.Spec.NodeName = machine
 		if pod.Annotations == nil {
@@ -158,8 +161,8 @@ func (r *BindingREST) setPodHostAndAnnotations(ctx api.Context, podID, oldMachin
 			pod.Annotations[k] = v
 		}
 		finalPod = pod
-		return pod, 0, nil
-	})
+		return pod, nil
+	}))
 	return finalPod, err
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/registry/service/allocator/etcd/etcd.go b/pkg/registry/service/allocator/etcd/etcd.go
index c2460405d6..f1a4981b27 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/service/allocator/etcd/etcd.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/service/allocator/etcd/etcd.go
@@ -141,25 +141,25 @@ func (e *Etcd) Release(item int) error {
 // tryUpdate performs a read-update to persist the latest snapshot state of allocation.
 func (e *Etcd) tryUpdate(fn func() error) error {
 	err := e.helper.GuaranteedUpdate(e.baseKey, &api.RangeAllocation{}, true,
-		func(input runtime.Object) (output runtime.Object, ttl uint64, err error) {
+		tools.SimpleUpdate(func(input runtime.Object) (output runtime.Object, err error) {
 			existing := input.(*api.RangeAllocation)
 			if len(existing.ResourceVersion) == 0 {
-				return nil, 0, fmt.Errorf("cannot allocate resources of type %s at this time", e.kind)
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot allocate resources of type %s at this time", e.kind)
 			}
 			if existing.ResourceVersion != e.last {
 				if err := e.alloc.Restore(existing.Range, existing.Data); err != nil {
-					return nil, 0, err
+					return nil, err
 				}
 				if err := fn(); err != nil {
-					return nil, 0, err
+					return nil, err
 				}
 			}
 			e.last = existing.ResourceVersion
 			rangeSpec, data := e.alloc.Snapshot()
 			existing.Range = rangeSpec
 			existing.Data = data
-			return existing, 0, nil
-		},
+			return existing, nil
+		}),
 	)
 	return etcderr.InterpretUpdateError(err, e.kind, "")
 }
@@ -198,19 +198,19 @@ func (e *Etcd) CreateOrUpdate(snapshot *api.RangeAllocation) error {
 
 	last := ""
 	err := e.helper.GuaranteedUpdate(e.baseKey, &api.RangeAllocation{}, true,
-		func(input runtime.Object) (output runtime.Object, ttl uint64, err error) {
+		tools.SimpleUpdate(func(input runtime.Object) (output runtime.Object, err error) {
 			existing := input.(*api.RangeAllocation)
 			switch {
 			case len(snapshot.ResourceVersion) != 0 && len(existing.ResourceVersion) != 0:
 				if snapshot.ResourceVersion != existing.ResourceVersion {
-					return nil, 0, k8serr.NewConflict(e.kind, "", fmt.Errorf("the provided resource version does not match"))
+					return nil, k8serr.NewConflict(e.kind, "", fmt.Errorf("the provided resource version does not match"))
 				}
 			case len(existing.ResourceVersion) != 0:
-				return nil, 0, k8serr.NewConflict(e.kind, "", fmt.Errorf("another caller has already initialized the resource"))
+				return nil, k8serr.NewConflict(e.kind, "", fmt.Errorf("another caller has already initialized the resource"))
 			}
 			last = snapshot.ResourceVersion
-			return snapshot, 0, nil
-		},
+			return snapshot, nil
+		}),
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return etcderr.InterpretUpdateError(err, e.kind, "")
diff --git a/pkg/tools/etcd_helper.go b/pkg/tools/etcd_helper.go
index 3976d3ea3f..d60cf68b43 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/etcd_helper.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/etcd_helper.go
@@ -335,23 +335,25 @@ func (h *EtcdHelper) ExtractObjToList(key string, listObj runtime.Object) error
 // empty responses and nil response nodes exactly like a not found error.
 func (h *EtcdHelper) ExtractObj(key string, objPtr runtime.Object, ignoreNotFound bool) error {
 	key = h.PrefixEtcdKey(key)
-	_, _, err := h.bodyAndExtractObj(key, objPtr, ignoreNotFound)
+	_, _, _, err := h.bodyAndExtractObj(key, objPtr, ignoreNotFound)
 	return err
 }
 
-func (h *EtcdHelper) bodyAndExtractObj(key string, objPtr runtime.Object, ignoreNotFound bool) (body string, modifiedIndex uint64, err error) {
+// bodyAndExtractObj performs the normal Get path to etcd, returning the parsed node and response for additional information
+// about the response, like the current etcd index and the ttl.
+func (h *EtcdHelper) bodyAndExtractObj(key string, objPtr runtime.Object, ignoreNotFound bool) (body string, node *etcd.Node, res *etcd.Response, err error) {
 	startTime := time.Now()
 	response, err := h.Client.Get(key, false, false)
 	recordEtcdRequestLatency("get", getTypeName(objPtr), startTime)
 
 	if err != nil && !IsEtcdNotFound(err) {
-		return "", 0, err
+		return "", nil, nil, err
 	}
-	return h.extractObj(response, err, objPtr, ignoreNotFound, false)
+	body, node, err = h.extractObj(response, err, objPtr, ignoreNotFound, false)
+	return body, node, response, err
 }
 
-func (h *EtcdHelper) extractObj(response *etcd.Response, inErr error, objPtr runtime.Object, ignoreNotFound, prevNode bool) (body string, modifiedIndex uint64, err error) {
-	var node *etcd.Node
+func (h *EtcdHelper) extractObj(response *etcd.Response, inErr error, objPtr runtime.Object, ignoreNotFound, prevNode bool) (body string, node *etcd.Node, err error) {
 	if response != nil {
 		if prevNode {
 			node = response.PrevNode
@@ -363,14 +365,14 @@ func (h *EtcdHelper) extractObj(response *etcd.Response, inErr error, objPtr run
 		if ignoreNotFound {
 			v, err := conversion.EnforcePtr(objPtr)
 			if err != nil {
-				return "", 0, err
+				return "", nil, err
 			}
 			v.Set(reflect.Zero(v.Type()))
-			return "", 0, nil
+			return "", nil, nil
 		} else if inErr != nil {
-			return "", 0, inErr
+			return "", nil, inErr
 		}
-		return "", 0, fmt.Errorf("unable to locate a value on the response: %#v", response)
+		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to locate a value on the response: %#v", response)
 	}
 	body = node.Value
 	err = h.Codec.DecodeInto([]byte(body), objPtr)
@@ -378,7 +380,7 @@ func (h *EtcdHelper) extractObj(response *etcd.Response, inErr error, objPtr run
 		_ = h.Versioner.UpdateObject(objPtr, node)
 		// being unable to set the version does not prevent the object from being extracted
 	}
-	return body, node.ModifiedIndex, err
+	return body, node, err
 }
 
 // CreateObj adds a new object at a key unless it already exists. 'ttl' is time-to-live in seconds,
@@ -482,9 +484,28 @@ func (h *EtcdHelper) SetObj(key string, obj, out runtime.Object, ttl uint64) err
 	return err
 }
 
+// ResponseMeta contains information about the etcd metadata that is associated with
+// an object. It abstracts the actual underlying objects to prevent coupling with etcd
+// and to improve testability.
+type ResponseMeta struct {
+	// TTL is the time to live of the node that contained the returned object. It may be
+	// zero or negative in some cases (objects may be expired after the requested
+	// expiration time due to server lag).
+	TTL int64
+}
+
 // Pass an EtcdUpdateFunc to EtcdHelper.GuaranteedUpdate to make an etcd update that is guaranteed to succeed.
 // See the comment for GuaranteedUpdate for more detail.
-type EtcdUpdateFunc func(input runtime.Object) (output runtime.Object, ttl uint64, err error)
+type EtcdUpdateFunc func(input runtime.Object, res ResponseMeta) (output runtime.Object, ttl *uint64, err error)
+type SimpleEtcdUpdateFunc func(runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, error)
+
+// SimpleUpdateFunc converts SimpleEtcdUpdateFunc into EtcdUpdateFunc
+func SimpleUpdate(fn SimpleEtcdUpdateFunc) EtcdUpdateFunc {
+	return func(input runtime.Object, _ ResponseMeta) (runtime.Object, *uint64, error) {
+		out, err := fn(input)
+		return out, nil, err
+	}
+}
 
 // GuaranteedUpdate calls "tryUpdate()" to update key "key" that is of type "ptrToType". It keeps
 // calling tryUpdate() and retrying the update until success if there is etcd index conflict. Note that object
@@ -495,7 +516,7 @@ type EtcdUpdateFunc func(input runtime.Object) (output runtime.Object, ttl uint6
 // Example:
 //
 // h := &util.EtcdHelper{client, encoding, versioning}
-// err := h.GuaranteedUpdate("myKey", &MyType{}, true, func(input runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, uint64, error) {
+// err := h.GuaranteedUpdate("myKey", &MyType{}, true, func(input runtime.Object, res ResponseMeta) (runtime.Object, *uint64, error) {
 //	// Before each invocation of the user-defined function, "input" is reset to etcd's current contents for "myKey".
 //
 //	cur := input.(*MyType) // Guaranteed to succeed.
@@ -503,9 +524,9 @@ type EtcdUpdateFunc func(input runtime.Object) (output runtime.Object, ttl uint6
 //	// Make a *modification*.
 //	cur.Counter++
 //
-//	// Return the modified object. Return an error to stop iterating. Return a non-zero uint64 to set
-//      // the TTL on the object.
-//	return cur, 0, nil
+//	// Return the modified object. Return an error to stop iterating. Return a uint64 to alter
+//  // the TTL on the object, or nil to keep it the same value.
+//	return cur, nil, nil
 // })
 //
 func (h *EtcdHelper) GuaranteedUpdate(key string, ptrToType runtime.Object, ignoreNotFound bool, tryUpdate EtcdUpdateFunc) error {
@@ -517,14 +538,33 @@ func (h *EtcdHelper) GuaranteedUpdate(key string, ptrToType runtime.Object, igno
 	key = h.PrefixEtcdKey(key)
 	for {
 		obj := reflect.New(v.Type()).Interface().(runtime.Object)
-		origBody, index, err := h.bodyAndExtractObj(key, obj, ignoreNotFound)
+		origBody, node, res, err := h.bodyAndExtractObj(key, obj, ignoreNotFound)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		meta := ResponseMeta{}
+		if node != nil {
+			meta.TTL = node.TTL
+		}
+
+		ret, newTTL, err := tryUpdate(obj, meta)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		ret, ttl, err := tryUpdate(obj)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
+		index := uint64(0)
+		ttl := uint64(0)
+		if node != nil {
+			index = node.ModifiedIndex
+			if node.TTL > 0 {
+				ttl = uint64(node.TTL)
+			}
+		} else if res != nil {
+			index = res.EtcdIndex
+		}
+
+		if newTTL != nil {
+			ttl = *newTTL
 		}
 
 		data, err := h.Codec.Encode(ret)
diff --git a/pkg/tools/etcd_helper_test.go b/pkg/tools/etcd_helper_test.go
index 89400d4061..0da3f2542b 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/etcd_helper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/etcd_helper_test.go
@@ -529,9 +529,9 @@ func TestGuaranteedUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a new node.
 	fakeClient.ExpectNotFoundGet(key)
 	obj := &TestResource{ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"}, Value: 1}
-	err := helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, uint64, error) {
-		return obj, 0, nil
-	})
+	err := helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, SimpleUpdate(func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, error) {
+		return obj, nil
+	}))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
 	}
@@ -548,15 +548,15 @@ func TestGuaranteedUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	// Update an existing node.
 	callbackCalled := false
 	objUpdate := &TestResource{ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"}, Value: 2}
-	err = helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, uint64, error) {
+	err = helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, SimpleUpdate(func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, error) {
 		callbackCalled = true
 
 		if in.(*TestResource).Value != 1 {
 			t.Errorf("Callback input was not current set value")
 		}
 
-		return objUpdate, 0, nil
-	})
+		return objUpdate, nil
+	}))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
 	}
@@ -575,6 +575,107 @@ func TestGuaranteedUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestGuaranteedUpdateTTL(t *testing.T) {
+	fakeClient := NewFakeEtcdClient(t)
+	fakeClient.TestIndex = true
+	helper := NewEtcdHelper(fakeClient, codec, etcdtest.PathPrefix())
+	key := etcdtest.AddPrefix("/some/key")
+
+	// Create a new node.
+	fakeClient.ExpectNotFoundGet(key)
+	obj := &TestResource{ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"}, Value: 1}
+	err := helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, func(in runtime.Object, res ResponseMeta) (runtime.Object, *uint64, error) {
+		if res.TTL != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected response meta: %#v", res)
+		}
+		ttl := uint64(10)
+		return obj, &ttl, nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
+	}
+	data, err := codec.Encode(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
+	}
+	expect := string(data)
+	got := fakeClient.Data[key].R.Node.Value
+	if expect != got {
+		t.Errorf("Wanted %v, got %v", expect, got)
+	}
+	if fakeClient.Data[key].R.Node.TTL != 10 {
+		t.Errorf("expected TTL set: %d", fakeClient.Data[key].R.Node.TTL)
+	}
+
+	// Update an existing node.
+	callbackCalled := false
+	objUpdate := &TestResource{ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"}, Value: 2}
+	err = helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, func(in runtime.Object, res ResponseMeta) (runtime.Object, *uint64, error) {
+		if res.TTL != 10 {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected response meta: %#v", res)
+		}
+		callbackCalled = true
+
+		if in.(*TestResource).Value != 1 {
+			t.Errorf("Callback input was not current set value")
+		}
+
+		return objUpdate, nil, nil
+	})
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
+	}
+	data, err = codec.Encode(objUpdate)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
+	}
+	expect = string(data)
+	got = fakeClient.Data[key].R.Node.Value
+	if expect != got {
+		t.Errorf("Wanted %v, got %v", expect, got)
+	}
+	if fakeClient.Data[key].R.Node.TTL != 10 {
+		t.Errorf("expected TTL remained set: %d", fakeClient.Data[key].R.Node.TTL)
+	}
+
+	// Update an existing node and change ttl
+	callbackCalled = false
+	objUpdate = &TestResource{ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"}, Value: 3}
+	err = helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, func(in runtime.Object, res ResponseMeta) (runtime.Object, *uint64, error) {
+		if res.TTL != 10 {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected response meta: %#v", res)
+		}
+		callbackCalled = true
+
+		if in.(*TestResource).Value != 2 {
+			t.Errorf("Callback input was not current set value")
+		}
+
+		newTTL := uint64(20)
+		return objUpdate, &newTTL, nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
+	}
+	data, err = codec.Encode(objUpdate)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
+	}
+	expect = string(data)
+	got = fakeClient.Data[key].R.Node.Value
+	if expect != got {
+		t.Errorf("Wanted %v, got %v", expect, got)
+	}
+	if fakeClient.Data[key].R.Node.TTL != 20 {
+		t.Errorf("expected TTL changed: %d", fakeClient.Data[key].R.Node.TTL)
+	}
+
+	if !callbackCalled {
+		t.Errorf("tryUpdate callback should have been called.")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestGuaranteedUpdateNoChange(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeClient := NewFakeEtcdClient(t)
 	fakeClient.TestIndex = true
@@ -584,9 +685,9 @@ func TestGuaranteedUpdateNoChange(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a new node.
 	fakeClient.ExpectNotFoundGet(key)
 	obj := &TestResource{ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"}, Value: 1}
-	err := helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, uint64, error) {
-		return obj, 0, nil
-	})
+	err := helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, SimpleUpdate(func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, error) {
+		return obj, nil
+	}))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
 	}
@@ -594,11 +695,11 @@ func TestGuaranteedUpdateNoChange(t *testing.T) {
 	// Update an existing node with the same data
 	callbackCalled := false
 	objUpdate := &TestResource{ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"}, Value: 1}
-	err = helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, uint64, error) {
+	err = helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, SimpleUpdate(func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, error) {
 		fakeClient.Err = errors.New("should not be called")
 		callbackCalled = true
-		return objUpdate, 0, nil
-	})
+		return objUpdate, nil
+	}))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
 	}
@@ -617,9 +718,9 @@ func TestGuaranteedUpdateKeyNotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeClient.ExpectNotFoundGet(key)
 	obj := &TestResource{ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"}, Value: 1}
 
-	f := func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, uint64, error) {
-		return obj, 0, nil
-	}
+	f := SimpleUpdate(func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, error) {
+		return obj, nil
+	})
 
 	ignoreNotFound := false
 	err := helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, ignoreNotFound, f)
@@ -654,7 +755,7 @@ func TestGuaranteedUpdate_CreateCollision(t *testing.T) {
 			defer wgDone.Done()
 
 			firstCall := true
-			err := helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, uint64, error) {
+			err := helper.GuaranteedUpdate("/some/key", &TestResource{}, true, SimpleUpdate(func(in runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, error) {
 				defer func() { firstCall = false }()
 
 				if firstCall {
@@ -665,8 +766,8 @@ func TestGuaranteedUpdate_CreateCollision(t *testing.T) {
 
 				currValue := in.(*TestResource).Value
 				obj := &TestResource{ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"}, Value: currValue + 1}
-				return obj, 0, nil
-			})
+				return obj, nil
+			}))
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Errorf("Unexpected error %#v", err)
 			}