diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/upgradeconfig_types.go b/api/v1alpha1/upgradeconfig_types.go
index 323ed769..bb1ecc67 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/upgradeconfig_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/upgradeconfig_types.go
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ type UpgradeConfigSpec struct {
 
 // UpgradeConfigStatus defines the observed state of UpgradeConfig
 type UpgradeConfigStatus struct {
+	// Represents the observations of a foo's current state.
+	// This is the kube standard conditions stanza.
+	// +patchMergeKey=type
+	// +patchStrategy=merge
+	// +listType=map
+	// +listMapKey=type
+	Conditions []metav1.Condition `json:"conditions,omitempty" patchStrategy:"merge" patchMergeKey:"type" protobuf:"bytes,1,rep,name=conditions"`
 
 	// This record history of every upgrade
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Optional
diff --git a/controllers/stucknodecondition/stuck_node_checker.go b/controllers/stucknodecondition/stuck_node_checker.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..81e45292
--- /dev/null
+++ b/controllers/stucknodecondition/stuck_node_checker.go
@@ -0,0 +1,341 @@
+package upgradeconfig
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
+	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	policyv1 "k8s.io/api/policy/v1"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/dynamic"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes"
+	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	logf "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/log"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/reconcile"
+)
+
+var (
+	log = logf.Log.WithName("controller_stucknode")
+)
+
+// blank assignment to verify that StuckNode implements reconcile.Reconciler
+var _ reconcile.Reconciler = &StuckNode{}
+
+// StuckNode reconciles the StuckNode condition.
+// This condition is intentionally independent of the upgrade itself since nodes can be stuck during any drain, regardless
+// of which upgrade or any upgrade in progress.
+type StuckNode struct {
+	dynamicClient        dynamic.Interface
+	kubeClient           kubernetes.Interface
+	ongoingDrains        map[string]time.Time
+	drainTimeoutDuration time.Duration
+	clock                clock.Clock
+}
+
+func (r *StuckNode) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, request reconcile.Request) (reconcile.Result, error) {
+	reqLogger := log.WithValues("Request.Namespace", request.Namespace, "Request.Name", request.Name)
+	reqLogger.Info("Reconciling stuck node checker")
+	// TODO seems much cleaner to wire up logger in context like kube
+
+	reconcileErr := r.reconcile(ctx, reqLogger)
+	if reconcileErr != nil {
+		// use real generated client to set only the StuckNodeControllerDegraded condition
+		return reconcile.Result{}, reconcileErr
+	}
+
+	// use real generated client to set only the StuckNodeControllerDegraded condition
+
+	return reconcile.Result{}, reconcileErr
+}
+
+func (r *StuckNode) reconcile(ctx context.Context, logger logr.Logger) error {
+	allNodes, err := r.kubeClient.CoreV1().Nodes().List(ctx, metav1.ListOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to list nodes: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	drainingNodes := []corev1.Node{}
+	drainingNodesByName := map[string]corev1.Node{}
+	for _, node := range allNodes.Items {
+		// draining nodes are unschedulable
+		if !node.Spec.Unschedulable {
+			continue
+		}
+		// the MCO uses this annotation with a suffix of drain to indicate draining.
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(node.Annotations["machineconfiguration.openshift.io/desiredDrain"], "drain") {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		drainingNodesByName[node.Name] = node
+		drainingNodes = append(drainingNodes, node)
+	}
+
+	// add nodes we don't have a record for
+	for _, drainingNode := range drainingNodes {
+		if _, exists := r.ongoingDrains[drainingNode.Name]; !exists {
+			r.ongoingDrains[drainingNode.Name] = r.clock.Now()
+		}
+	}
+
+	// remove nodes that are no longer draining
+	for nodeName := range r.ongoingDrains {
+		for _, drainingNode := range drainingNodes {
+			if drainingNode.Name == nodeName {
+				delete(r.ongoingDrains, drainingNode.Name)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	stuckNodeNames := []string{}
+	for nodeName, drainStartObservedTime := range r.ongoingDrains {
+		durationOfDrainSoFar := r.clock.Now().Sub(drainStartObservedTime)
+		if durationOfDrainSoFar > r.drainTimeoutDuration {
+			stuckNodeNames = append(stuckNodeNames, nodeName)
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Strings(stuckNodeNames)
+
+	if len(stuckNodeNames) == 0 {
+		// if no nodes are stuck, then simply set the condition ok
+		// use real generated client to set only the StuckNode condition
+		// TODO remove debugging
+		logger.Info("no stuck nodes found")
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// if we have stuck nodes, iterate through each node to see if there's an obvious PDB sticking us
+	failureMessages := []string{
+		// by semi-coincidence, this sorts first.  We could adjust code if we wanted.
+		fmt.Sprintf("identified %d stuck nodes", len(stuckNodeNames)),
+	}
+	for _, stuckNodeName := range stuckNodeNames {
+		stuckNode := drainingNodesByName[stuckNodeName]
+		interestingPods, err := interestingPodsOnStuckNode(ctx, r.kubeClient, stuckNode, r.drainTimeoutDuration)
+		if err != nil {
+			failureMessages = append(failureMessages, fmt.Sprintf("node/%s stuck with no details because: %v", stuckNode.Name, err))
+			continue
+		}
+		for podKey, reason := range interestingPods {
+			failureMessages = append(failureMessages, fmt.Sprintf("node/%s stuck because pod/%s -n %s %v", stuckNode.Name, podKey.name, podKey.namespace, reason))
+		}
+		if len(failureMessages) > 100 {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	// sort for stable condition
+	sort.Strings(failureMessages)
+
+	// use first 100 messages to avoid blowing out size
+	if len(failureMessages) > 100 {
+		failureMessages = failureMessages[:100]
+	}
+	statusMessage := strings.Join(failureMessages, "; ")
+	// TODO no need if we take this and wire up a client.
+	logger.Info(statusMessage)
+
+	// use real generated client to set only the StuckNode condition
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+type podIdentifier struct {
+	namespace string
+	name      string
+}
+
+// interestingPodsOnStuckNode returns pod namespace,name tuples with a reason why they are interesting
+// Common values are
+// 1. Pod has very long graceful termination
+// 2. Pod has PDB preventing eviction
+func interestingPodsOnStuckNode(ctx context.Context, kubeClient kubernetes.Interface, node corev1.Node, drainTimeoutDuration time.Duration) (map[podIdentifier]error, error) {
+	allPodsOnNode, err := kubeClient.CoreV1().Pods("").List(ctx, metav1.ListOptions{
+		FieldSelector: "spec.nodeName=" + node.Name,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to list pods: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	podToReason := make(map[podIdentifier]error)
+	for _, pod := range allPodsOnNode.Items {
+		nodeDrainWillNotWaitForPod := false
+		for _, owner := range pod.OwnerReferences {
+			if owner.Kind == "DaemonSet" {
+				nodeDrainWillNotWaitForPod = true
+			}
+		}
+		if nodeDrainWillNotWaitForPod {
+			continue
+		}
+		if isPodFinishedRunning(pod) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		podKey := podIdentifier{
+			namespace: pod.Namespace,
+			name:      pod.Name,
+		}
+		switch {
+		case pod.DeletionTimestamp == nil:
+			// check to see if the pod is protected by a PDB that prevents deletion
+			if reasons := checkIfPodIsEvictable(ctx, kubeClient, pod); len(reasons) > 0 {
+				podToReason[podKey] = err
+			}
+		case pod.DeletionTimestamp != nil:
+			// check to see if the pod has a really long grace period
+			if err := checkIfPodHasLongGracePeriod(ctx, pod, drainTimeoutDuration); err != nil {
+				podToReason[podKey] = err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return podToReason, nil
+}
+
+func checkIfPodHasLongGracePeriod(ctx context.Context, pod corev1.Pod, drainTimeoutDuration time.Duration) error {
+	if pod.Spec.TerminationGracePeriodSeconds == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	maxGracePeriod := int64(0.8 * drainTimeoutDuration.Seconds())
+	if *pod.Spec.TerminationGracePeriodSeconds > maxGracePeriod {
+		return fmt.Errorf("termination grace period too large: limit=%vs actual=%vs", maxGracePeriod, *pod.Spec.TerminationGracePeriodSeconds)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// checkIfPodIsEvictable reasons why the pod is not evictable
+func checkIfPodIsEvictable(ctx context.Context, kubeClient kubernetes.Interface, pod corev1.Pod) []error {
+	// terminal pods are not subject to PDBs
+	if canIgnorePDB(pod) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// TODO option on caching, might not matter
+	allPDBsInNamespace, err := kubeClient.PolicyV1().PodDisruptionBudgets(pod.Namespace).List(ctx, metav1.ListOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return []error{fmt.Errorf("failed to list PDBs: %w", err)}
+	}
+
+	// logic here is borrowed from the pod eviction REST storage
+	matchingPDBs := []policyv1.PodDisruptionBudget{}
+	for _, pdb := range allPDBsInNamespace.Items {
+		selector, err := metav1.LabelSelectorAsSelector(pdb.Spec.Selector)
+		if err != nil {
+			return []error{fmt.Errorf("failed to get parse selector: %w", err)}
+		}
+		if selector.Matches(labels.Set(pod.Labels)) {
+			matchingPDBs = append(matchingPDBs, pdb)
+		}
+	}
+
+	blockingPDBs := map[string]error{}
+	for _, pdb := range matchingPDBs {
+		// logic here is borrowed from the pod eviction REST storage
+
+		// isPodReady is the current implementation of IsHealthy
+		// If the pod is healthy, it should be guarded by the PDB.
+		if !isPodReady(pod) {
+			if pdb.Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy != nil && *pdb.Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy == policyv1.AlwaysAllow {
+				// in this case, the unhealthy pod can be evicted, the PDB does not block
+				continue
+			}
+			// default nil and IfHealthyBudget policy
+			if pdb.Status.CurrentHealthy >= pdb.Status.DesiredHealthy && pdb.Status.DesiredHealthy > 0 {
+				// in this case, the unhealthy pod can be evicted, the PDB does not block
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+		if pdb.Status.ObservedGeneration < pdb.Generation {
+			blockingPDBs[pdb.Name] = fmt.Errorf("too many changes to PDB to check")
+			continue
+		}
+		if pdb.Status.DisruptionsAllowed < 0 {
+			blockingPDBs[pdb.Name] = fmt.Errorf("pdb disruptions allowed is negative")
+			continue
+		}
+		if len(pdb.Status.DisruptedPods) > MaxDisruptedPodSize {
+			blockingPDBs[pdb.Name] = fmt.Errorf("DisruptedPods map too big - too many evictions not confirmed by PDB controller")
+			continue
+		}
+		if pdb.Status.DisruptionsAllowed == 0 {
+			err := errors.NewTooManyRequests("Cannot evict pod as it would violate the pod's disruption budget.", 0)
+			blockingPDBs[pdb.Name] = fmt.Errorf("%v The disruption budget %s needs %d healthy pods and has %d currently", err, pdb.Name, pdb.Status.DesiredHealthy, pdb.Status.CurrentHealthy)
+			continue
+		}
+	}
+	if len(blockingPDBs) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	reasons := []error{}
+	for pdbName, reason := range blockingPDBs {
+		reasons = append(reasons, fmt.Errorf("pdb/%v reports %v", pdbName, reason))
+	}
+
+	return reasons
+}
+
+func isPodFinishedRunning(pod corev1.Pod) bool {
+	if pod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodSucceeded || pod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodFailed {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// some helper functions lifted from kube
+
+// canIgnorePDB returns true for pod conditions that allow the pod to be deleted
+// without checking PDBs.
+func canIgnorePDB(pod corev1.Pod) bool {
+	if pod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodSucceeded || pod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodFailed ||
+		pod.Status.Phase == corev1.PodPending || !pod.ObjectMeta.DeletionTimestamp.IsZero() {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// MaxDisruptedPodSize is the max size of PodDisruptionBudgetStatus.DisruptedPods. API server eviction
+// subresource handler will refuse to evict pods covered by the corresponding PDB
+// if the size of the map exceeds this value. It means a large number of
+// evictions have been approved by the API server but not noticed by the PDB controller yet.
+// This situation should self-correct because the PDB controller removes
+// entries from the map automatically after the PDB DeletionTimeout regardless.
+const MaxDisruptedPodSize = 2000
+
+// isPodReady returns true if a pod is ready; false otherwise.
+func isPodReady(pod corev1.Pod) bool {
+	return isPodReadyConditionTrue(pod.Status)
+}
+
+// isPodReadyConditionTrue returns true if a pod is ready; false otherwise.
+func isPodReadyConditionTrue(status corev1.PodStatus) bool {
+	condition := getPodReadyCondition(status)
+	return condition != nil && condition.Status == corev1.ConditionTrue
+}
+
+// getPodReadyCondition extracts the pod ready condition from the given status and returns that.
+// Returns nil if the condition is not present.
+func getPodReadyCondition(status corev1.PodStatus) *corev1.PodCondition {
+	_, condition := getPodCondition(&status, corev1.PodReady)
+	return condition
+}
+
+// getPodCondition extracts the provided condition from the given status and returns that.
+// Returns nil and -1 if the condition is not present, and the index of the located condition.
+func getPodCondition(status *corev1.PodStatus, conditionType corev1.PodConditionType) (int, *corev1.PodCondition) {
+	if status == nil {
+		return -1, nil
+	}
+	for i := range status.Conditions {
+		if status.Conditions[i].Type == conditionType {
+			return i, &status.Conditions[i]
+		}
+	}
+	return -1, nil
+}