diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/6872-tsaarni-small.md b/changelogs/unreleased/6872-tsaarni-small.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..321ccd1329b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/6872-tsaarni-small.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed a memory leak in Contour follower instance due to unprocessed LoadBalancer status updates.
diff --git a/cmd/contour/serve.go b/cmd/contour/serve.go
index 1c48f9fce88..976bfb334a8 100644
--- a/cmd/contour/serve.go
+++ b/cmd/contour/serve.go
@@ -703,6 +703,10 @@ func (s *Server) doServe() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	notifier := &leadership.Notifier{
+		ToNotify: []leadership.NeedLeaderElectionNotification{contourHandler, observer},
+	}
+
 	// Register an informer to watch envoy's service if we haven't been given static details.
 	if lbAddress := contourConfiguration.Ingress.StatusAddress; len(lbAddress) > 0 {
 		s.log.WithField("loadbalancer-address", lbAddress).Info("Using supplied information for Ingress status")
@@ -723,6 +727,8 @@ func (s *Server) doServe() error {
 			s.log.WithError(err).WithField("resource", "services").Fatal("failed to create informer")
 		}
 
+		notifier.ToNotify = append(notifier.ToNotify, serviceHandler)
+
 		s.log.WithField("envoy-service-name", contourConfiguration.Envoy.Service.Name).
 			WithField("envoy-service-namespace", contourConfiguration.Envoy.Service.Namespace).
 			Info("Watching Service for Ingress status")
@@ -740,9 +746,6 @@ func (s *Server) doServe() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	notifier := &leadership.Notifier{
-		ToNotify: []leadership.NeedLeaderElectionNotification{contourHandler, observer},
-	}
 	if err := s.mgr.Add(notifier); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/k8s/statusaddress.go b/internal/k8s/statusaddress.go
index 0cb5cc1daa2..e323e8c310f 100644
--- a/internal/k8s/statusaddress.go
+++ b/internal/k8s/statusaddress.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ package k8s
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	core_v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
@@ -186,6 +187,7 @@ type ServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcher struct {
 	ServiceName string
 	LBStatus    chan core_v1.LoadBalancerStatus
 	Log         logrus.FieldLogger
+	leader      atomic.Bool
 }
 
 func (s *ServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcher) OnAdd(obj any, _ bool) {
@@ -234,8 +236,14 @@ func (s *ServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcher) OnDelete(obj any) {
 	})
 }
 
+func (s *ServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcher) OnElectedLeader() {
+	s.leader.Store(true)
+}
+
 func (s *ServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcher) notify(lbstatus core_v1.LoadBalancerStatus) {
-	s.LBStatus <- lbstatus
+	if s.leader.Load() {
+		s.LBStatus <- lbstatus
+	}
 }
 
 func coreToNetworkingLBStatus(lbs core_v1.LoadBalancerStatus) networking_v1.IngressLoadBalancerStatus {
diff --git a/internal/k8s/statusaddress_test.go b/internal/k8s/statusaddress_test.go
index e8bbf88cf18..477188179af 100644
--- a/internal/k8s/statusaddress_test.go
+++ b/internal/k8s/statusaddress_test.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func TestServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcherOnAdd(t *testing.T) {
 		LBStatus:    lbstatus,
 		Log:         fixture.NewTestLogger(t),
 	}
+	sw.OnElectedLeader()
 
 	recv := func() (core_v1.LoadBalancerStatus, bool) {
 		select {
@@ -89,6 +90,7 @@ func TestServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcherOnUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 		LBStatus:    lbstatus,
 		Log:         fixture.NewTestLogger(t),
 	}
+	sw.OnElectedLeader()
 
 	recv := func() (core_v1.LoadBalancerStatus, bool) {
 		select {
@@ -139,6 +141,7 @@ func TestServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcherOnDelete(t *testing.T) {
 		LBStatus:    lbstatus,
 		Log:         fixture.NewTestLogger(t),
 	}
+	sw.OnElectedLeader()
 
 	recv := func() (core_v1.LoadBalancerStatus, bool) {
 		select {
@@ -179,6 +182,31 @@ func TestServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcherOnDelete(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, want, got)
 }
 
+func TestServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcherNoNotificationsOnFollower(t *testing.T) {
+	lbstatus := make(chan core_v1.LoadBalancerStatus, 1)
+
+	sw := ServiceStatusLoadBalancerWatcher{
+		ServiceName: "envoy",
+		LBStatus:    lbstatus,
+		Log:         fixture.NewTestLogger(t),
+	}
+
+	recv := func() bool {
+		select {
+		case <-sw.LBStatus:
+			return true
+		default:
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+
+	// assert that when not elected leader, no notifications are sent.
+	var svc core_v1.Service
+	svc.Name = "envoy"
+	sw.OnAdd(&svc, false)
+	assert.False(t, recv())
+}
+
 func TestStatusAddressUpdater(t *testing.T) {
 	const objName = "someobjfoo"