diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/BUILD b/pkg/kubelet/BUILD
index 04fee365cb8..96c9a58a84f 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/BUILD
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ go_library(
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/typed/core/v1",
+        "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/tools/cache",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/tools/record",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/util/clock",
@@ -208,6 +209,7 @@ go_test(
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/strategicpatch",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/uuid",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait",
+        "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/testing",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/tools/record",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/util/clock",
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/container/BUILD b/pkg/kubelet/container/BUILD
index 1f0a5fa2503..ffac0682657 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/container/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/container/BUILD
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ go_library(
         "//pkg/api:go_default_library",
         "//pkg/api/v1:go_default_library",
         "//pkg/kubelet/api/v1alpha1/runtime:go_default_library",
+        "//pkg/kubelet/events:go_default_library",
         "//pkg/kubelet/util/format:go_default_library",
         "//pkg/kubelet/util/ioutils:go_default_library",
         "//pkg/util/hash:go_default_library",
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ go_library(
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/errors",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/runtime",
+        "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/tools/record",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/util/flowcontrol",
     ],
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/container/helpers.go b/pkg/kubelet/container/helpers.go
index b57c0edb99e..00b8ae949aa 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/container/helpers.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/container/helpers.go
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
+	clientv1 "k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
 	runtimeapi "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/api/v1alpha1/runtime"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/events"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/util/format"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/util/ioutils"
 	hashutil "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util/hash"
@@ -146,15 +148,21 @@ type innerEventRecorder struct {
 	recorder record.EventRecorder
 }
 
-func (irecorder *innerEventRecorder) shouldRecordEvent(object runtime.Object) (*v1.ObjectReference, bool) {
+func (irecorder *innerEventRecorder) shouldRecordEvent(object runtime.Object) (*clientv1.ObjectReference, bool) {
 	if object == nil {
 		return nil, false
 	}
-	if ref, ok := object.(*v1.ObjectReference); ok {
+	if ref, ok := object.(*clientv1.ObjectReference); ok {
 		if !strings.HasPrefix(ref.FieldPath, ImplicitContainerPrefix) {
 			return ref, true
 		}
 	}
+	// just in case we miss a spot, be sure that we still log something
+	if ref, ok := object.(*v1.ObjectReference); ok {
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(ref.FieldPath, ImplicitContainerPrefix) {
+			return events.ToObjectReference(ref), true
+		}
+	}
 	return nil, false
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/events/BUILD b/pkg/kubelet/events/BUILD
index bcca6b23aea..2615695abf0 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/events/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/events/BUILD
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ go_library(
     name = "go_default_library",
     srcs = ["event.go"],
     tags = ["automanaged"],
+    deps = [
+        "//pkg/api/v1:go_default_library",
+        "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1",
+    ],
 )
 
 filegroup(
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/events/event.go b/pkg/kubelet/events/event.go
index 99d7b9ed4ec..c1fa45d5522 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/events/event.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/events/event.go
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 package events
 
+import (
+	clientv1 "k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
+)
+
 const (
 	// Container event reason list
 	CreatedContainer        = "Created"
@@ -76,3 +81,19 @@ const (
 	FailedPreStopHook     = "FailedPreStopHook"
 	UnfinishedPreStopHook = "UnfinishedPreStopHook"
 )
+
+// ToObjectReference takes an old style object reference and converts it to a client-go one
+func ToObjectReference(ref *v1.ObjectReference) *clientv1.ObjectReference {
+	if ref == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &clientv1.ObjectReference{
+		Kind:            ref.Kind,
+		Namespace:       ref.Namespace,
+		Name:            ref.Name,
+		UID:             ref.UID,
+		APIVersion:      ref.APIVersion,
+		ResourceVersion: ref.ResourceVersion,
+		FieldPath:       ref.FieldPath,
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/eviction/BUILD b/pkg/kubelet/eviction/BUILD
index 1884faf0fce..b2345bd9b90 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/eviction/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/eviction/BUILD
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ go_library(
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait",
+        "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/tools/record",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/util/clock",
     ],
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ go_test(
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types",
+        "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/tools/record",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/util/clock",
     ],
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/eviction/eviction_manager.go b/pkg/kubelet/eviction/eviction_manager.go
index 50c5f9cdc36..04d6e9a7514 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/eviction/eviction_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/eviction/eviction_manager.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/golang/glog"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait"
+	clientv1 "k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/util/clock"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ type managerImpl struct {
 	// captures when a node condition was last observed based on a threshold being met
 	nodeConditionsLastObservedAt nodeConditionsObservedAt
 	// nodeRef is a reference to the node
-	nodeRef *v1.ObjectReference
+	nodeRef *clientv1.ObjectReference
 	// used to record events about the node
 	recorder record.EventRecorder
 	// used to measure usage stats on system
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ func NewManager(
 	killPodFunc KillPodFunc,
 	imageGC ImageGC,
 	recorder record.EventRecorder,
-	nodeRef *v1.ObjectReference,
+	nodeRef *clientv1.ObjectReference,
 	clock clock.Clock) (Manager, lifecycle.PodAdmitHandler) {
 	manager := &managerImpl{
 		clock:           clock,
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/eviction/eviction_manager_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/eviction/eviction_manager_test.go
index 6617f8e6b4b..e441b4204bb 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/eviction/eviction_manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/eviction/eviction_manager_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
+	clientv1 "k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/util/clock"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
@@ -172,7 +173,7 @@ func TestMemoryPressure(t *testing.T) {
 	podKiller := &mockPodKiller{}
 	diskInfoProvider := &mockDiskInfoProvider{dedicatedImageFs: false}
 	imageGC := &mockImageGC{freed: int64(0), err: nil}
-	nodeRef := &v1.ObjectReference{Kind: "Node", Name: "test", UID: types.UID("test"), Namespace: ""}
+	nodeRef := &clientv1.ObjectReference{Kind: "Node", Name: "test", UID: types.UID("test"), Namespace: ""}
 
 	config := Config{
 		MaxPodGracePeriodSeconds: 5,
@@ -392,7 +393,7 @@ func TestDiskPressureNodeFs(t *testing.T) {
 	podKiller := &mockPodKiller{}
 	diskInfoProvider := &mockDiskInfoProvider{dedicatedImageFs: false}
 	imageGC := &mockImageGC{freed: int64(0), err: nil}
-	nodeRef := &v1.ObjectReference{Kind: "Node", Name: "test", UID: types.UID("test"), Namespace: ""}
+	nodeRef := &clientv1.ObjectReference{Kind: "Node", Name: "test", UID: types.UID("test"), Namespace: ""}
 
 	config := Config{
 		MaxPodGracePeriodSeconds: 5,
@@ -589,7 +590,7 @@ func TestMinReclaim(t *testing.T) {
 	podKiller := &mockPodKiller{}
 	diskInfoProvider := &mockDiskInfoProvider{dedicatedImageFs: false}
 	imageGC := &mockImageGC{freed: int64(0), err: nil}
-	nodeRef := &v1.ObjectReference{Kind: "Node", Name: "test", UID: types.UID("test"), Namespace: ""}
+	nodeRef := &clientv1.ObjectReference{Kind: "Node", Name: "test", UID: types.UID("test"), Namespace: ""}
 
 	config := Config{
 		MaxPodGracePeriodSeconds: 5,
@@ -728,7 +729,7 @@ func TestNodeReclaimFuncs(t *testing.T) {
 	diskInfoProvider := &mockDiskInfoProvider{dedicatedImageFs: false}
 	imageGcFree := resource.MustParse("700Mi")
 	imageGC := &mockImageGC{freed: imageGcFree.Value(), err: nil}
-	nodeRef := &v1.ObjectReference{Kind: "Node", Name: "test", UID: types.UID("test"), Namespace: ""}
+	nodeRef := &clientv1.ObjectReference{Kind: "Node", Name: "test", UID: types.UID("test"), Namespace: ""}
 
 	config := Config{
 		MaxPodGracePeriodSeconds: 5,
@@ -920,7 +921,7 @@ func TestInodePressureNodeFsInodes(t *testing.T) {
 	podKiller := &mockPodKiller{}
 	diskInfoProvider := &mockDiskInfoProvider{dedicatedImageFs: false}
 	imageGC := &mockImageGC{freed: int64(0), err: nil}
-	nodeRef := &v1.ObjectReference{Kind: "Node", Name: "test", UID: types.UID("test"), Namespace: ""}
+	nodeRef := &clientv1.ObjectReference{Kind: "Node", Name: "test", UID: types.UID("test"), Namespace: ""}
 
 	config := Config{
 		MaxPodGracePeriodSeconds: 5,
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/images/BUILD b/pkg/kubelet/images/BUILD
index b974557f186..dc650800954 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/images/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/images/BUILD
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ go_library(
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/errors",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait",
+        "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/tools/record",
         "//vendor:k8s.io/client-go/util/flowcontrol",
     ],
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/images/image_gc_manager.go b/pkg/kubelet/images/image_gc_manager.go
index bab60ac99a4..9ce4d6b8120 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/images/image_gc_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/images/image_gc_manager.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/errors"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait"
+	clientv1 "k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/cadvisor"
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ type realImageGCManager struct {
 	recorder record.EventRecorder
 
 	// Reference to this node.
-	nodeRef *v1.ObjectReference
+	nodeRef *clientv1.ObjectReference
 
 	// Track initialization
 	initialized bool
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ type imageRecord struct {
 	size int64
 }
 
-func NewImageGCManager(runtime container.Runtime, cadvisorInterface cadvisor.Interface, recorder record.EventRecorder, nodeRef *v1.ObjectReference, policy ImageGCPolicy) (ImageGCManager, error) {
+func NewImageGCManager(runtime container.Runtime, cadvisorInterface cadvisor.Interface, recorder record.EventRecorder, nodeRef *clientv1.ObjectReference, policy ImageGCPolicy) (ImageGCManager, error) {
 	// Validate policy.
 	if policy.HighThresholdPercent < 0 || policy.HighThresholdPercent > 100 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid HighThresholdPercent %d, must be in range [0-100]", policy.HighThresholdPercent)
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/images/image_manager.go b/pkg/kubelet/images/image_manager.go
index c6488fc3376..666978ef4d8 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/images/image_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/images/image_manager.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func shouldPullImage(container *v1.Container, imagePresent bool) bool {
 // records an event using ref, event msg.  log to glog using prefix, msg, logFn
 func (m *imageManager) logIt(ref *v1.ObjectReference, eventtype, event, prefix, msg string, logFn func(args ...interface{})) {
 	if ref != nil {
-		m.recorder.Event(ref, eventtype, event, msg)
+		m.recorder.Event(events.ToObjectReference(ref), eventtype, event, msg)
 	} else {
 		logFn(fmt.Sprint(prefix, " ", msg))
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
index 314b34abf64..9f951eb7e32 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait"
 	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
 	v1core "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/typed/core/v1"
+	clientv1 "k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/cache"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/util/clock"
@@ -401,7 +402,7 @@ func NewMainKubelet(kubeCfg *componentconfig.KubeletConfiguration, kubeDeps *Kub
 	// TODO: get the real node object of ourself,
 	// and use the real node name and UID.
 	// TODO: what is namespace for node?
-	nodeRef := &v1.ObjectReference{
+	nodeRef := &clientv1.ObjectReference{
 		Kind:      "Node",
 		Name:      string(nodeName),
 		UID:       types.UID(nodeName),
@@ -923,7 +924,7 @@ type Kubelet struct {
 	autoDetectCloudProvider bool
 
 	// Reference to this node.
-	nodeRef *v1.ObjectReference
+	nodeRef *clientv1.ObjectReference
 
 	// Container runtime.
 	containerRuntime kubecontainer.Runtime
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
index 84f16eb6040..4a834f0c22e 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	utilruntime "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait"
+	clientv1 "k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/util/clock"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/util/flowcontrol"
@@ -201,7 +202,7 @@ func newTestKubeletWithImageList(
 	kubelet.livenessManager = proberesults.NewManager()
 
 	kubelet.containerManager = cm.NewStubContainerManager()
-	fakeNodeRef := &v1.ObjectReference{
+	fakeNodeRef := &clientv1.ObjectReference{
 		Kind:      "Node",
 		Name:      testKubeletHostname,
 		UID:       types.UID(testKubeletHostname),
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ func newTestKubeletWithImageList(
 	// TODO: Factor out "StatsProvider" from Kubelet so we don't have a cyclic dependency
 	volumeStatsAggPeriod := time.Second * 10
 	kubelet.resourceAnalyzer = stats.NewResourceAnalyzer(kubelet, volumeStatsAggPeriod, kubelet.containerRuntime)
-	nodeRef := &v1.ObjectReference{
+	nodeRef := &clientv1.ObjectReference{
 		Kind:      "Node",
 		Name:      string(kubelet.nodeName),
 		UID:       types.UID(kubelet.nodeName),
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/oom_watcher.go b/pkg/kubelet/oom_watcher.go
index 2e5dfeac2a3..58831e19df4 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/oom_watcher.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/oom_watcher.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ import (
 	cadvisorapi "github.com/google/cadvisor/info/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/runtime"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/cadvisor"
 )
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/oom_watcher_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/oom_watcher_test.go
index f00efbe619d..83ce0b564bb 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/oom_watcher_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/oom_watcher_test.go
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ package kubelet
 import (
 	"testing"
 
+	"k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1"
 	cadvisortest "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/cadvisor/testing"
 )
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/runonce_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/runonce_test.go
index 96e5d783d09..0b33cfdde0b 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/runonce_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/runonce_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	cadvisorapiv2 "github.com/google/cadvisor/info/v2"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
+	clientv1 "k8s.io/client-go/pkg/api/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/util/clock"
 	utiltesting "k8s.io/client-go/util/testing"
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ func TestRunOnce(t *testing.T) {
 	// TODO: Factor out "StatsProvider" from Kubelet so we don't have a cyclic dependency
 	volumeStatsAggPeriod := time.Second * 10
 	kb.resourceAnalyzer = stats.NewResourceAnalyzer(kb, volumeStatsAggPeriod, kb.containerRuntime)
-	nodeRef := &v1.ObjectReference{
+	nodeRef := &clientv1.ObjectReference{
 		Kind:      "Node",
 		Name:      string(kb.nodeName),
 		UID:       types.UID(kb.nodeName),