diff --git a/pkg/backup/backup.go b/pkg/backup/backup.go
index c8c3646cd..59f814c34 100644
--- a/pkg/backup/backup.go
+++ b/pkg/backup/backup.go
@@ -73,12 +73,14 @@ func (i *itemKey) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("resource=%s,namespace=%s,name=%s", i.resource, i.namespace, i.name)
 }
 
-var cohabitatingResources = map[string]*cohabitatingResource{
-	"deployments":     newCohabitatingResource("deployments", "extensions", "apps"),
-	"daemonsets":      newCohabitatingResource("daemonsets", "extensions", "apps"),
-	"replicasets":     newCohabitatingResource("replicasets", "extensions", "apps"),
-	"networkpolicies": newCohabitatingResource("networkpolicies", "extensions", "networking.k8s.io"),
-	"events":          newCohabitatingResource("events", "", "events.k8s.io"),
+func cohabitatingResources() map[string]*cohabitatingResource {
+	return map[string]*cohabitatingResource{
+		"deployments":     newCohabitatingResource("deployments", "extensions", "apps"),
+		"daemonsets":      newCohabitatingResource("daemonsets", "extensions", "apps"),
+		"replicasets":     newCohabitatingResource("replicasets", "extensions", "apps"),
+		"networkpolicies": newCohabitatingResource("networkpolicies", "extensions", "networking.k8s.io"),
+		"events":          newCohabitatingResource("events", "", "events.k8s.io"),
+	}
 }
 
 // NewKubernetesBackupper creates a new kubernetesBackupper.
@@ -252,7 +254,7 @@ func (kb *kubernetesBackupper) Backup(backup *api.Backup, backupFile, logFile io
 		kb.dynamicFactory,
 		kb.discoveryHelper,
 		backedUpItems,
-		cohabitatingResources,
+		cohabitatingResources(),
 		resolvedActions,
 		kb.podCommandExecutor,
 		tw,
diff --git a/pkg/backup/backup_test.go b/pkg/backup/backup_test.go
index 4a51f6376..eb77a96d4 100644
--- a/pkg/backup/backup_test.go
+++ b/pkg/backup/backup_test.go
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ func TestBackup(t *testing.T) {
 				dynamicFactory,
 				discoveryHelper,
 				map[itemKey]struct{}{}, // backedUpItems
-				cohabitatingResources,
+				cohabitatingResources(),
 				mock.Anything,
 				kb.podCommandExecutor,
 				mock.Anything, // tarWriter
@@ -571,6 +571,79 @@ func TestBackup(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestBackupUsesNewCohabitatingResourcesForEachBackup(t *testing.T) {
+	discoveryHelper := &arktest.FakeDiscoveryHelper{
+		Mapper: &arktest.FakeMapper{
+			Resources: map[schema.GroupVersionResource]schema.GroupVersionResource{},
+		},
+	}
+
+	b, err := NewKubernetesBackupper(discoveryHelper, nil, nil, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	kb := b.(*kubernetesBackupper)
+	groupBackupperFactory := &mockGroupBackupperFactory{}
+	kb.groupBackupperFactory = groupBackupperFactory
+
+	// assert that newGroupBackupper() is called with the result of cohabitatingResources()
+	// passed as an argument.
+	firstCohabitatingResources := cohabitatingResources()
+	groupBackupperFactory.On("newGroupBackupper",
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		discoveryHelper,
+		mock.Anything,
+		firstCohabitatingResources,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+	).Return(&mockGroupBackupper{})
+
+	assert.NoError(t, b.Backup(&v1.Backup{}, &bytes.Buffer{}, &bytes.Buffer{}, nil))
+	groupBackupperFactory.AssertExpectations(t)
+
+	// mutate the cohabitatingResources map that was used in the first backup to simulate
+	// the first backup process having done so.
+	for _, value := range firstCohabitatingResources {
+		value.seen = true
+	}
+
+	// assert that on a second backup, newGroupBackupper() is called with the result of
+	// cohabitatingResources() passed as an argument, that the value is not the
+	// same as the mutated firstCohabitatingResources value, and that all of the `seen`
+	// flags are false as they should be for a new instance
+	secondCohabitatingResources := cohabitatingResources()
+	groupBackupperFactory.On("newGroupBackupper",
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		discoveryHelper,
+		mock.Anything,
+		secondCohabitatingResources,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+		mock.Anything,
+	).Return(&mockGroupBackupper{})
+
+	assert.NoError(t, b.Backup(&v1.Backup{}, &bytes.Buffer{}, &bytes.Buffer{}, nil))
+	assert.NotEqual(t, firstCohabitatingResources, secondCohabitatingResources)
+	for _, resource := range secondCohabitatingResources {
+		assert.False(t, resource.seen)
+	}
+	groupBackupperFactory.AssertExpectations(t)
+}
+
 type mockGroupBackupperFactory struct {
 	mock.Mock
 }