diff --git a/cmd/controller/leader_election.go b/cmd/controller/leader_election.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c43d2df3ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/controller/leader_election.go
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	clientset "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/leaderelection"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/leaderelection/resourcelock"
+	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
+	"os"
+	"time"
+)
+
+var (
+	client *clientset.Clientset
+)
+
+func getNewLock(lockname, podname, namespace string) *resourcelock.LeaseLock {
+	return &resourcelock.LeaseLock{
+		LeaseMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+			Name:      lockname,
+			Namespace: namespace,
+		},
+		Client: client.CoordinationV1(),
+		LockConfig: resourcelock.ResourceLockConfig{
+			Identity: podname,
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func runLeaderElection(ctx context.Context, lock *resourcelock.LeaseLock, podname string, ctrlOpts Options, log logr.Logger) {
+	// Start the leader election for running kapp-controller
+	log.Info("Waiting for leader election")
+	leaderelection.RunOrDie(ctx, leaderelection.LeaderElectionConfig{
+		Lock:            lock,
+		ReleaseOnCancel: true,
+		LeaseDuration:   15 * time.Second,
+		RenewDeadline:   10 * time.Second,
+		RetryPeriod:     2 * time.Second,
+		Callbacks: leaderelection.LeaderCallbacks{
+			OnStartedLeading: func(c context.Context) {
+				err := Run(ctrlOpts, log.WithName("controller"))
+				if err != nil {
+					klog.Errorf("Error while running as leader: %v", err)
+				}
+			},
+			OnStoppedLeading: func() {
+				klog.Fatalf("no longer the leader, staying inactive.")
+				os.Exit(0)
+			},
+			OnNewLeader: func(identity string) {
+				//Notify when a new leader is elected
+				if identity == podname {
+					return
+				}
+				klog.InfoS("new leader elected", "id", identity)
+			},
+		},
+	})
+}
diff --git a/cmd/controller/main.go b/cmd/controller/main.go
index 07aa82d2b6..a11fb53577 100644
--- a/cmd/controller/main.go
+++ b/cmd/controller/main.go
@@ -6,12 +6,8 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"flag"
-	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
-	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	clientset "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/rest"
-	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/leaderelection"
-	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/leaderelection/resourcelock"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
 	"os"
 	logf "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/log"
@@ -22,54 +18,6 @@ import (
 // Version of kapp-controller is set via ldflags at build-time from the most recent git tag; see hack/build.sh
 var Version = "develop"
 
-var (
-	client *clientset.Clientset
-)
-
-func getNewLock(lockname, podname, namespace string) *resourcelock.LeaseLock {
-	return &resourcelock.LeaseLock{
-		LeaseMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
-			Name:      lockname,
-			Namespace: namespace,
-		},
-		Client: client.CoordinationV1(),
-		LockConfig: resourcelock.ResourceLockConfig{
-			Identity: podname,
-		},
-	}
-}
-
-func runLeaderElection(ctx context.Context, lock *resourcelock.LeaseLock, podname string, ctrlOpts Options, log logr.Logger) {
-	// Start the leader election for running kapp-controller
-	log.Info("Waiting for leader election")
-	leaderelection.RunOrDie(ctx, leaderelection.LeaderElectionConfig{
-		Lock:            lock,
-		ReleaseOnCancel: true,
-		LeaseDuration:   15 * time.Second,
-		RenewDeadline:   10 * time.Second,
-		RetryPeriod:     2 * time.Second,
-		Callbacks: leaderelection.LeaderCallbacks{
-			OnStartedLeading: func(c context.Context) {
-				err := Run(ctrlOpts, log.WithName("controller"))
-				if err != nil {
-					klog.Errorf("Error while running as leader: %v", err)
-				}
-			},
-			OnStoppedLeading: func() {
-				klog.Fatalf("no longer the leader, staying inactive.")
-				os.Exit(0)
-			},
-			OnNewLeader: func(identity string) {
-				//Notify when a new leader is elected
-				if identity == podname {
-					return
-				}
-				klog.InfoS("new leader elected", "id", identity)
-			},
-		},
-	})
-}
-
 func main() {
 	ctrlOpts := Options{}
 	var sidecarexec bool