diff --git a/docs/ldap_sync.md b/docs/ldap_sync.md
index 5d08cf8bbab..789a6a1efc0 100644
--- a/docs/ldap_sync.md
+++ b/docs/ldap_sync.md
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ litellm_settings:
 
 The example uses anonymous LDAP reads over TLS. For a service account, add `bind_dn: os.environ/LDAP_BIND_DN` and `bind_password: os.environ/LDAP_BIND_PASSWORD`. Every enabled sync requires TLS, including anonymous reads and dry runs. Use `ldaps://` or set `start_tls: true` with `ldap://`. LDAPS and StartTLS verify the server certificate, using the system trust store or the optional `ca_cert_path` CA bundle.
 
-Start with `dry_run: true`, restart the proxy, and review the planned team creation and member additions/removals in its normal logs. Set `dry_run: false` and restart to apply changes. The first run starts shortly after startup and later runs start every `interval_minutes`, which must be at least 5. Logs also report matched and unmatched users and skipped groups. There is no separate sync UI or run-history table.
+Start with `dry_run: true`, restart the proxy, and review the planned team creation and member additions/removals in its normal logs. Set `dry_run: false` and restart to apply changes. The first run starts shortly after startup and later runs start every `interval_minutes`, which must be at least 5. Only one replica syncs per interval: the job lock lasts the whole interval, so a restart soon after a run, for example to switch off `dry_run`, takes effect at the next interval rather than immediately. Logs also report matched and unmatched users and skipped groups. There is no separate sync UI or run-history table.
 
 ## Identity and membership
 
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/common_utils/ldap_sync.py b/litellm/proxy/common_utils/ldap_sync.py
index 126063e0906..0ed26c74010 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/common_utils/ldap_sync.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/common_utils/ldap_sync.py
@@ -209,11 +209,8 @@ class LDAPSync:
             is not True
         ):
             return
-        try:
-            await self._sync()
-        finally:
-            # Release on completion so a restart (e.g. dry_run -> apply) syncs immediately.
-            await self.pod_lock_manager.release_lock(cronjob_id=LDAP_SYNC_JOB_ID)
+        # The lock is left to expire, so one replica syncs per interval; others firing within it skip.
+        await self._sync()
 
 
 def ldap_sync_settings(general_settings: Mapping[str, object]) -> LDAPSyncSettings | None:
diff --git a/tests/unit/proxy/common_utils/test_ldap_sync.py b/tests/unit/proxy/common_utils/test_ldap_sync.py
index 8e1f9fdf15f..26f0d129cdb 100644
--- a/tests/unit/proxy/common_utils/test_ldap_sync.py
+++ b/tests/unit/proxy/common_utils/test_ldap_sync.py
@@ -107,9 +107,6 @@ class LeaseRedis:
     async def async_get_cache(self, key: str) -> object | None:
         return self.values.get(key)
 
-    async def async_delete_cache(self, key: str) -> int:
-        return 1 if self.values.pop(key, None) is not None else 0
-
 
 def job_for(
     prisma: _FakePrisma,
@@ -189,24 +186,23 @@ async def test_second_worker_cannot_sync_while_first_workers_run_holds_the_lock(
     release.set()
     await running
     assert not second_connection.closed
-    assert redis.values == {}
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_finished_run_releases_the_lock_so_a_restarted_worker_syncs_immediately():
+async def test_lock_outlives_a_finished_run_so_other_workers_skip_the_rest_of_the_interval():
     prisma: Final = _FakePrisma(teams=[_team()])
     redis: Final = LeaseRedis()
     first: Final = Connection([group(TEAM, member=[])])
-    restarted: Final = Connection([group(TEAM, member=[])])
+    later: Final = Connection([group(TEAM, member=[])])
     await job_for(prisma, first, redis=redis).run()
-    assert redis.values == {}
-    await job_for(prisma, restarted, redis=redis).run()
+    await job_for(prisma, later, redis=redis).run()
     assert first.closed
-    assert restarted.closed
+    assert not later.closed
+    assert redis.values
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_failed_run_still_releases_the_lock(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
+async def test_failed_run_keeps_the_lock_until_the_next_interval(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
     redis: Final = LeaseRedis()
     job: Final = job_for(_FakePrisma(teams=[_team()]), Connection([group(TEAM, member=[])]), redis=redis)
 
@@ -216,7 +212,7 @@ async def test_failed_run_still_releases_the_lock(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatc
     monkeypatch.setattr(job, "_sync", failing_sync)
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
         await job.run()
-    assert redis.values == {}
+    assert redis.values
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio