diff --git a/dask_kubernetes/operator/controller/controller.py b/dask_kubernetes/operator/controller/controller.py
index ce1f5a0a..19599e59 100644
--- a/dask_kubernetes/operator/controller/controller.py
+++ b/dask_kubernetes/operator/controller/controller.py
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ async def retire_workers(
         "This can result in lost data, see https://kubernetes.dask.org/en/latest/operator_troubleshooting.html."
     )
     workers = await kr8s.asyncio.get(
-        "pods",
+        "deployments",
         namespace=namespace,
         label_selector={"dask.org/workergroup-name": worker_group_name},
     )