diff --git a/federation/pkg/federation-controller/ingress/ingress_controller_test.go b/federation/pkg/federation-controller/ingress/ingress_controller_test.go
index 52838d5d87..47b1bb5257 100644
--- a/federation/pkg/federation-controller/ingress/ingress_controller_test.go
+++ b/federation/pkg/federation-controller/ingress/ingress_controller_test.go
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ func TestIngressController(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, updatedIngress2.ObjectMeta.Annotations["A"], updatedIngress.ObjectMeta.Annotations["A"], "Updated annotation not transferred from federated to cluster ingress.")
 	// Test add cluster
 	t.Log("Adding a second cluster")
+	ing1.Annotations = make(map[string]string)
 	ing1.Annotations[staticIPNameKeyWritable] = "foo" // Make sure that the base object has a static IP name first.
 	fedIngressWatch.Modify(&ing1)
 	clusterWatch.Add(cluster2)
diff --git a/federation/pkg/federation-controller/util/test/test_helper.go b/federation/pkg/federation-controller/util/test/test_helper.go
index df6c07fd9f..2866e48771 100644
--- a/federation/pkg/federation-controller/util/test/test_helper.go
+++ b/federation/pkg/federation-controller/util/test/test_helper.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 
 	federation_api "k8s.io/kubernetes/federation/apis/federation/v1beta1"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/federation/pkg/federation-controller/util"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
 	api_v1 "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/testing/core"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/runtime"
@@ -48,14 +49,22 @@ func (wd *WatcherDispatcher) register(watcher *watch.FakeWatcher) {
 	}
 }
 
+func copy(obj runtime.Object) runtime.Object {
+	objCopy, err := api.Scheme.DeepCopy(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	return objCopy.(runtime.Object)
+}
+
 // Add sends an add event.
 func (wd *WatcherDispatcher) Add(obj runtime.Object) {
 	wd.Lock()
 	defer wd.Unlock()
-	wd.eventsSoFar = append(wd.eventsSoFar, &watch.Event{Type: watch.Added, Object: obj})
+	wd.eventsSoFar = append(wd.eventsSoFar, &watch.Event{Type: watch.Added, Object: copy(obj)})
 	for _, watcher := range wd.watchers {
 		if !watcher.IsStopped() {
-			watcher.Add(obj)
+			watcher.Add(copy(obj))
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -65,11 +74,11 @@ func (wd *WatcherDispatcher) Modify(obj runtime.Object) {
 	wd.Lock()
 	defer wd.Unlock()
 	glog.V(4).Infof("->WatcherDispatcher.Modify(%v)", obj)
-	wd.eventsSoFar = append(wd.eventsSoFar, &watch.Event{Type: watch.Modified, Object: obj})
+	wd.eventsSoFar = append(wd.eventsSoFar, &watch.Event{Type: watch.Modified, Object: copy(obj)})
 	for i, watcher := range wd.watchers {
 		if !watcher.IsStopped() {
 			glog.V(4).Infof("->Watcher(%d).Modify(%v)", i, obj)
-			watcher.Modify(obj)
+			watcher.Modify(copy(obj))
 		} else {
 			glog.V(4).Infof("->Watcher(%d) is stopped.  Not calling Modify(%v)", i, obj)
 		}
@@ -80,10 +89,10 @@ func (wd *WatcherDispatcher) Modify(obj runtime.Object) {
 func (wd *WatcherDispatcher) Delete(lastValue runtime.Object) {
 	wd.Lock()
 	defer wd.Unlock()
-	wd.eventsSoFar = append(wd.eventsSoFar, &watch.Event{Type: watch.Deleted, Object: lastValue})
+	wd.eventsSoFar = append(wd.eventsSoFar, &watch.Event{Type: watch.Deleted, Object: copy(lastValue)})
 	for _, watcher := range wd.watchers {
 		if !watcher.IsStopped() {
-			watcher.Delete(lastValue)
+			watcher.Delete(copy(lastValue))
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -92,10 +101,10 @@ func (wd *WatcherDispatcher) Delete(lastValue runtime.Object) {
 func (wd *WatcherDispatcher) Error(errValue runtime.Object) {
 	wd.Lock()
 	defer wd.Unlock()
-	wd.eventsSoFar = append(wd.eventsSoFar, &watch.Event{Type: watch.Error, Object: errValue})
+	wd.eventsSoFar = append(wd.eventsSoFar, &watch.Event{Type: watch.Error, Object: copy(errValue)})
 	for _, watcher := range wd.watchers {
 		if !watcher.IsStopped() {
-			watcher.Error(errValue)
+			watcher.Error(copy(errValue))
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -104,10 +113,10 @@ func (wd *WatcherDispatcher) Error(errValue runtime.Object) {
 func (wd *WatcherDispatcher) Action(action watch.EventType, obj runtime.Object) {
 	wd.Lock()
 	defer wd.Unlock()
-	wd.eventsSoFar = append(wd.eventsSoFar, &watch.Event{Type: action, Object: obj})
+	wd.eventsSoFar = append(wd.eventsSoFar, &watch.Event{Type: action, Object: copy(obj)})
 	for _, watcher := range wd.watchers {
 		if !watcher.IsStopped() {
-			watcher.Action(action, obj)
+			watcher.Action(action, copy(obj))
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -146,7 +155,7 @@ func RegisterFakeCopyOnCreate(resource string, client *core.Fake, watcher *Watch
 		obj := createAction.GetObject()
 		go func() {
 			watcher.Add(obj)
-			objChan <- obj
+			objChan <- copy(obj)
 		}()
 		return true, obj, nil
 	})
@@ -164,7 +173,7 @@ func RegisterFakeCopyOnUpdate(resource string, client *core.Fake, watcher *Watch
 		go func() {
 			glog.V(4).Infof("Object updated. Writing to channel: %v", obj)
 			watcher.Modify(obj)
-			objChan <- obj
+			objChan <- copy(obj)
 		}()
 		return true, obj, nil
 	})