diff --git a/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/pod.py b/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/pod.py
index 709583d78e2ed..5b9e57ec01743 100644
--- a/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/pod.py
+++ b/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/pod.py
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@
     PodNotFoundException,
     PodOperatorHookProtocol,
     PodPhase,
-    check_exception_is_kubernetes_api_unauthorized,
     container_is_succeeded,
     get_container_termination_message,
 )
@@ -113,6 +112,10 @@ class PodReattachFailure(AirflowException):
     """When we expect to be able to find a pod but cannot."""
 
 
+class PodCredentialsExpiredFailure(AirflowException):
+    """When pod fails to refresh credentials."""
+
+
 class KubernetesPodOperator(BaseOperator):
     """
     Execute a task in a Kubernetes Pod.
@@ -652,9 +655,8 @@ def execute_sync(self, context: Context):
             return result
 
     @tenacity.retry(
-        stop=tenacity.stop_after_attempt(3),
         wait=tenacity.wait_exponential(max=15),
-        retry=tenacity.retry_if_exception(lambda exc: check_exception_is_kubernetes_api_unauthorized(exc)),
+        retry=tenacity.retry_if_exception_type(PodCredentialsExpiredFailure),
         reraise=True,
     )
     def await_pod_completion(self, pod: k8s.V1Pod):
@@ -675,6 +677,10 @@ def await_pod_completion(self, pod: k8s.V1Pod):
                     "Failed to check container status due to permission error. Refreshing credentials and retrying."
                 )
                 self._refresh_cached_properties()
+                self.pod_manager.read_pod(
+                    pod=pod
+                )  # attempt using refreshed credentials, raises if still invalid
+                raise PodCredentialsExpiredFailure("Kubernetes credentials expired, retrying after refresh.")
             raise exc
 
     def _refresh_cached_properties(self):
diff --git a/tests/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/test_pod.py b/tests/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/test_pod.py
index 1ca0d9851b18c..be8279bcabd9a 100644
--- a/tests/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/test_pod.py
+++ b/tests/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/test_pod.py
@@ -1629,8 +1629,9 @@ def test_execute_async_callbacks(self):
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("get_logs", [True, False])
     @patch(f"{POD_MANAGER_CLASS}.fetch_requested_container_logs")
     @patch(f"{POD_MANAGER_CLASS}.await_container_completion")
+    @patch(f"{POD_MANAGER_CLASS}.read_pod")
     def test_await_container_completion_refreshes_properties_on_exception(
-        self, mock_await_container_completion, fetch_requested_container_logs, get_logs
+        self, mock_read_pod, mock_await_container_completion, fetch_requested_container_logs, get_logs
     ):
         k = KubernetesPodOperator(task_id="task", get_logs=get_logs)
         pod = self.run_pod(k)
@@ -1655,6 +1656,28 @@ def test_await_container_completion_refreshes_properties_on_exception(
             mock_await_container_completion.assert_has_calls(
                 [mock.call(pod=pod, container_name=k.base_container_name)] * 3
             )
+        mock_read_pod.assert_called()
+        assert client != k.client
+        assert hook != k.hook
+        assert pod_manager != k.pod_manager
+
+    @patch(f"{POD_MANAGER_CLASS}.await_container_completion")
+    @patch(f"{POD_MANAGER_CLASS}.read_pod")
+    def test_await_container_completion_raises_unauthorized_if_credentials_still_invalid_after_refresh(
+        self, mock_read_pod, mock_await_container_completion
+    ):
+        k = KubernetesPodOperator(task_id="task", get_logs=False)
+        pod = self.run_pod(k)
+        client, hook, pod_manager = k.client, k.hook, k.pod_manager
+
+        mock_await_container_completion.side_effect = [ApiException(status=401)]
+        mock_read_pod.side_effect = [ApiException(status=401)]
+
+        with pytest.raises(ApiException):
+            k.await_pod_completion(pod)
+
+        mock_read_pod.assert_called()
+        # assert cache was refreshed
         assert client != k.client
         assert hook != k.hook
         assert pod_manager != k.pod_manager
@@ -1663,7 +1686,7 @@ def test_await_container_completion_refreshes_properties_on_exception(
         "side_effect, exception_type, expect_exc",
         [
             ([ApiException(401), mock.DEFAULT], ApiException, True),  # works after one 401
-            ([ApiException(401)] * 10, ApiException, False),  # exc after 3 retries on 401
+            ([ApiException(401)] * 3 + [mock.DEFAULT], ApiException, True),  # works after 3 retries
             ([ApiException(402)], ApiException, False),  # exc on non-401
             ([ApiException(500)], ApiException, False),  # exc on non-401
             ([Exception], Exception, False),  # exc on different exception
@@ -1684,7 +1707,7 @@ def test_await_container_completion_retries_on_specific_exception(
         else:
             with pytest.raises(exception_type):
                 k.await_pod_completion(pod)
-        expected_call_count = min(len(side_effect), 3)  # retry max 3 times
+        expected_call_count = len(side_effect)
         mock_await_container_completion.assert_has_calls(
             [mock.call(pod=pod, container_name=k.base_container_name)] * expected_call_count
         )