diff --git a/cmd/sentinel/cmd/sentinel.go b/cmd/sentinel/cmd/sentinel.go
index 100e381bb..541f6f09f 100644
--- a/cmd/sentinel/cmd/sentinel.go
+++ b/cmd/sentinel/cmd/sentinel.go
@@ -98,6 +98,12 @@ func (s *Sentinel) electionLoop(ctx context.Context) {
 			case err := <-errCh:
 				if err != nil {
 					log.Errorw("election loop error", zap.Error(err))
+
+					// It's important to Stop() any on-going elections, as most stores will block
+					// until all previous elections have completed. If we continue without stopping,
+					// we run the risk of preventing any subsequent elections from successfully
+					// electing a leader.
+					s.election.Stop()
 				}
 				goto end
 			case <-ctx.Done():
diff --git a/internal/store/etcdv3.go b/internal/store/etcdv3.go
index 135782f2c..895e722e0 100644
--- a/internal/store/etcdv3.go
+++ b/internal/store/etcdv3.go
@@ -199,14 +199,12 @@ func (e *etcdv3Election) campaign() {
 		e.electedCh <- false
 		s, err := concurrency.NewSession(e.c, concurrency.WithTTL(int(e.ttl.Seconds())), concurrency.WithContext(e.ctx))
 		if err != nil {
-			e.running = false
 			e.errCh <- err
 			return
 		}
 
 		etcdElection := concurrency.NewElection(s, e.path)
 		if err = etcdElection.Campaign(e.ctx, e.candidateUID); err != nil {
-			e.running = false
 			e.errCh <- err
 			return
 		}
@@ -215,11 +213,8 @@ func (e *etcdv3Election) campaign() {
 
 		select {
 		case <-e.ctx.Done():
-			e.running = false
-			etcdElection.Resign(context.TODO())
 			return
 		case <-s.Done():
-			etcdElection.Resign(context.TODO())
 			e.electedCh <- false
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/internal/store/store.go b/internal/store/store.go
index 6becbb4e7..5776fa56e 100644
--- a/internal/store/store.go
+++ b/internal/store/store.go
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ type Election interface {
 	// TODO(sgotti) this mimics the current docker/leadership API and the etcdv3
 	// implementations adapt to it. In future it could be replaced with a better
 	// api like the current one implemented by etcdclientv3/concurrency.
+	//
+	// WARNING: If the election error channel receives any error, it is vital that
+	// the consuming code calls election.Stop(). Failure to do so can cause
+	// subsequent elections to hang indefinitely across all participants of an
+	// election.
 	RunForElection() (<-chan bool, <-chan error)
 	Leader() (string, error)
 	Stop()