diff --git a/cmd/kured/main.go b/cmd/kured/main.go
index 3ad1cbee2..0c31ac221 100644
--- a/cmd/kured/main.go
+++ b/cmd/kured/main.go
@@ -761,16 +761,24 @@ func rebootAsRequired(nodeID string, booter reboot.Reboot, sentinelCommand []str
 			blockCheckers = append(blockCheckers, KubernetesBlockingChecker{client: client, nodename: nodeID, filter: podSelectors})
 		}
 
+		rebootBlocked := rebootBlocked(blockCheckers...)
+
 		var rebootRequiredBlockCondition string
-		if rebootBlocked(blockCheckers...) {
+		if rebootBlocked {
 			rebootRequiredBlockCondition = ", but blocked at this time"
-			continue
 		}
+
 		log.Infof("Reboot required%s", rebootRequiredBlockCondition)
 
-		if !holding(lock, &nodeMeta, concurrency > 1) && !acquire(lock, &nodeMeta, TTL, concurrency) {
-			// Prefer to not schedule pods onto this node to avoid draing the same pod multiple times.
+		if rebootBlocked {
+			// Prefer to not schedule pods onto this node to avoid draining the same pod multiple times.
 			preferNoScheduleTaint.Enable()
+			// We've logged that the reboot is needed, but curently blocked, and have tainted the node.
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if !holding(lock, &nodeMeta, concurrency > 1) && !acquire(lock, &nodeMeta, TTL, concurrency) {
+			// If we can't acquire the lock, poll again
 			continue
 		}