diff --git a/consul/leader.go b/consul/leader.go
index 7c9484b8f3..5c7c3ef34e 100644
--- a/consul/leader.go
+++ b/consul/leader.go
@@ -121,6 +121,14 @@ WAIT:
 // previously inflight transactions have been commited and that our
 // state is up-to-date.
 func (s *Server) establishLeadership() error {
+	// Hint the tombstone expiration timer. When we freshly establish leadership
+	// we become the authoritative timer, and so we need to start the clock
+	// on any pending GC events.
+	s.tombstoneGC.Reset()
+	lastIndex := s.raft.LastIndex()
+	s.tombstoneGC.Hint(lastIndex)
+	s.logger.Printf("[DEBUG] consul: reset tombstone GC to index %d", lastIndex)
+
 	// Setup ACLs if we are the leader and need to
 	if err := s.initializeACL(); err != nil {
 		s.logger.Printf("[ERR] consul: ACL initialization failed: %v", err)
diff --git a/consul/leader_test.go b/consul/leader_test.go
index 1bd910858b..b41ac9755e 100644
--- a/consul/leader_test.go
+++ b/consul/leader_test.go
@@ -436,3 +436,78 @@ func TestLeader_MultiBootstrap(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestLeader_TombstoneGC_Reset(t *testing.T) {
+	dir1, s1 := testServer(t)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dir1)
+	defer s1.Shutdown()
+
+	dir2, s2 := testServerDCBootstrap(t, "dc1", false)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dir2)
+	defer s2.Shutdown()
+
+	dir3, s3 := testServerDCBootstrap(t, "dc1", false)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dir3)
+	defer s3.Shutdown()
+	servers := []*Server{s1, s2, s3}
+
+	// Try to join
+	addr := fmt.Sprintf("127.0.0.1:%d",
+		s1.config.SerfLANConfig.MemberlistConfig.BindPort)
+	if _, err := s2.JoinLAN([]string{addr}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := s3.JoinLAN([]string{addr}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	for _, s := range servers {
+		testutil.WaitForResult(func() (bool, error) {
+			peers, _ := s.raftPeers.Peers()
+			return len(peers) == 3, nil
+		}, func(err error) {
+			t.Fatalf("should have 3 peers")
+		})
+	}
+
+	var leader *Server
+	for _, s := range servers {
+		if s.IsLeader() {
+			leader = s
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if leader == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Should have a leader")
+	}
+
+	// Check that the leader has a pending GC expiration
+	if !leader.tombstoneGC.PendingExpiration() {
+		t.Fatalf("should have pending expiration")
+	}
+
+	// Kill the leader
+	leader.Shutdown()
+	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	// Wait for a new leader
+	leader = nil
+	testutil.WaitForResult(func() (bool, error) {
+		for _, s := range servers {
+			if s.IsLeader() {
+				leader = s
+				return true, nil
+			}
+		}
+		return false, nil
+	}, func(err error) {
+		t.Fatalf("should have leader")
+	})
+
+	// Check that the new leader has a pending GC expiration
+	testutil.WaitForResult(func() (bool, error) {
+		return leader.tombstoneGC.PendingExpiration(), nil
+	}, func(err error) {
+		t.Fatalf("should have pending expiration")
+	})
+}