diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a473b8ff6..7eac68771 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 # Changelog
 
+#### [v0.9.7](https://github.com/heptio/ark/releases/tag/v0.9.7) - 2018-10-04
+
+#### Bug Fixes
+  * Preserve explicitly-specified node ports during restore (#712, @timoreimann)
+  * Enable restoring resources with ownerReference set (#837, @mwieczorek)
+  * Fix error when restoring ExternalName services (#869, @shubheksha)
+  * remove restore log helper for accurate line numbers (#891, @skriss)
+  * Display backup StartTimestamp in `ark backup get` output (#894, @marctc)
+  * Fix restic restores when using namespace mappings (#900, @skriss)
+
 #### [v0.9.6](https://github.com/heptio/ark/releases/tag/v0.9.6) - 2018-09-21
 
 #### Bug Fixes
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/server/server.go b/pkg/cmd/server/server.go
index 2eebbb936..c631dbecc 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/server/server.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/server/server.go
@@ -381,6 +381,7 @@ var defaultResourcePriorities = []string{
 	"serviceaccounts",
 	"limitranges",
 	"pods",
+	"replicaset",
 }
 
 func applyConfigDefaults(c *api.Config, logger logrus.FieldLogger) {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/util/output/backup_printer.go b/pkg/cmd/util/output/backup_printer.go
index 17153d223..aa9b05b43 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/util/output/backup_printer.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/util/output/backup_printer.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func printBackup(backup *v1.Backup, w io.Writer, options printers.PrintOptions)
 		status = "Deleting"
 	}
 
-	if _, err := fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s", name, status, backup.CreationTimestamp.Time, humanReadableTimeFromNow(expiration), metav1.FormatLabelSelector(backup.Spec.LabelSelector)); err != nil {
+	if _, err := fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s", name, status, backup.Status.StartTimestamp.Time, humanReadableTimeFromNow(expiration), metav1.FormatLabelSelector(backup.Spec.LabelSelector)); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/restic/restorer.go b/pkg/restic/restorer.go
index 6d538b735..a618390bd 100644
--- a/pkg/restic/restorer.go
+++ b/pkg/restic/restorer.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import (
 // Restorer can execute restic restores of volumes in a pod.
 type Restorer interface {
 	// RestorePodVolumes restores all annotated volumes in a pod.
-	RestorePodVolumes(restore *arkv1api.Restore, pod *corev1api.Pod, log logrus.FieldLogger) []error
+	RestorePodVolumes(restore *arkv1api.Restore, pod *corev1api.Pod, sourceNamespace string, log logrus.FieldLogger) []error
 }
 
 type restorer struct {
@@ -84,14 +84,14 @@ func newRestorer(
 	return r
 }
 
-func (r *restorer) RestorePodVolumes(restore *arkv1api.Restore, pod *corev1api.Pod, log logrus.FieldLogger) []error {
+func (r *restorer) RestorePodVolumes(restore *arkv1api.Restore, pod *corev1api.Pod, sourceNamespace string, log logrus.FieldLogger) []error {
 	// get volumes to restore from pod's annotations
 	volumesToRestore := GetPodSnapshotAnnotations(pod)
 	if len(volumesToRestore) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	repo, err := r.repoEnsurer.EnsureRepo(r.ctx, restore.Namespace, pod.Namespace)
+	repo, err := r.repoEnsurer.EnsureRepo(r.ctx, restore.Namespace, sourceNamespace)
 	if err != nil {
 		return []error{err}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/restore/restore.go b/pkg/restore/restore.go
index 22d404438..7be73de48 100644
--- a/pkg/restore/restore.go
+++ b/pkg/restore/restore.go
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ func (kr *kubernetesRestorer) Restore(restore *api.Restore, backup *api.Backup,
 		restore:              restore,
 		prioritizedResources: prioritizedResources,
 		selector:             selector,
-		logger:               log,
+		log:                  log,
 		dynamicFactory:       kr.dynamicFactory,
 		fileSystem:           kr.fileSystem,
 		namespaceClient:      kr.namespaceClient,
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ type context struct {
 	restore              *api.Restore
 	prioritizedResources []schema.GroupResource
 	selector             labels.Selector
-	logger               logrus.FieldLogger
+	log                  logrus.FieldLogger
 	dynamicFactory       client.DynamicFactory
 	fileSystem           FileSystem
 	namespaceClient      corev1.NamespaceInterface
@@ -338,16 +338,12 @@ type context struct {
 	pvRestorer           PVRestorer
 }
 
-func (ctx *context) infof(msg string, args ...interface{}) {
-	ctx.logger.Infof(msg, args...)
-}
-
 func (ctx *context) execute() (api.RestoreResult, api.RestoreResult) {
-	ctx.infof("Starting restore of backup %s", kube.NamespaceAndName(ctx.backup))
+	ctx.log.Infof("Starting restore of backup %s", kube.NamespaceAndName(ctx.backup))
 
 	dir, err := ctx.unzipAndExtractBackup(ctx.backupReader)
 	if err != nil {
-		ctx.infof("error unzipping and extracting: %v", err)
+		ctx.log.Infof("error unzipping and extracting: %v", err)
 		return api.RestoreResult{}, api.RestoreResult{Ark: []string{err.Error()}}
 	}
 	defer ctx.fileSystem.RemoveAll(dir)
@@ -452,7 +448,7 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreFromDir(dir string) (api.RestoreResult, api.RestoreRe
 			nsPath := filepath.Join(nsSubDir, nsName)
 
 			if !namespaceFilter.ShouldInclude(nsName) {
-				ctx.infof("Skipping namespace %s", nsName)
+				ctx.log.Infof("Skipping namespace %s", nsName)
 				continue
 			}
 
@@ -467,7 +463,7 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreFromDir(dir string) (api.RestoreResult, api.RestoreRe
 			// (in order to get any backed-up metadata), but if we don't find it there,
 			// create a blank one.
 			if !existingNamespaces.Has(mappedNsName) {
-				logger := ctx.logger.WithField("namespace", nsName)
+				logger := ctx.log.WithField("namespace", nsName)
 				ns := getNamespace(logger, filepath.Join(dir, api.ResourcesDir, "namespaces", api.ClusterScopedDir, nsName+".json"), mappedNsName)
 				if _, err := kube.EnsureNamespaceExists(ns, ctx.namespaceClient); err != nil {
 					addArkError(&errs, err)
@@ -485,15 +481,15 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreFromDir(dir string) (api.RestoreResult, api.RestoreRe
 		}
 
 		// TODO timeout?
-		ctx.logger.Debugf("Waiting on resource wait group for resource=%s", resource.String())
+		ctx.log.Debugf("Waiting on resource wait group for resource=%s", resource.String())
 		ctx.resourceWaitGroup.Wait()
-		ctx.logger.Debugf("Done waiting on resource wait group for resource=%s", resource.String())
+		ctx.log.Debugf("Done waiting on resource wait group for resource=%s", resource.String())
 	}
 
 	// TODO timeout?
-	ctx.logger.Debug("Waiting on global wait group")
+	ctx.log.Debug("Waiting on global wait group")
 	waitErrs := ctx.globalWaitGroup.Wait()
-	ctx.logger.Debug("Done waiting on global wait group")
+	ctx.log.Debug("Done waiting on global wait group")
 
 	for _, err := range waitErrs {
 		// TODO not ideal to be adding these to Ark-level errors
@@ -579,14 +575,14 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 	warnings, errs := api.RestoreResult{}, api.RestoreResult{}
 
 	if ctx.restore.Spec.IncludeClusterResources != nil && !*ctx.restore.Spec.IncludeClusterResources && namespace == "" {
-		ctx.infof("Skipping resource %s because it's cluster-scoped", resource)
+		ctx.log.Infof("Skipping resource %s because it's cluster-scoped", resource)
 		return warnings, errs
 	}
 
 	if namespace != "" {
-		ctx.infof("Restoring resource '%s' into namespace '%s' from: %s", resource, namespace, resourcePath)
+		ctx.log.Infof("Restoring resource '%s' into namespace '%s' from: %s", resource, namespace, resourcePath)
 	} else {
-		ctx.infof("Restoring cluster level resource '%s' from: %s", resource, resourcePath)
+		ctx.log.Infof("Restoring cluster level resource '%s' from: %s", resource, resourcePath)
 	}
 
 	files, err := ctx.fileSystem.ReadDir(resourcePath)
@@ -631,29 +627,20 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if hasControllerOwner(obj.GetOwnerReferences()) {
-			// non-pods with controller owners shouldn't be restored; pods with controller
-			// owners should only be restored if they have restic snapshots to restore
-			if groupResource != kuberesource.Pods || !restic.PodHasSnapshotAnnotation(obj) {
-				ctx.infof("%s has a controller owner - skipping", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj))
-				continue
-			}
-		}
-
 		complete, err := isCompleted(obj, groupResource)
 		if err != nil {
 			addToResult(&errs, namespace, fmt.Errorf("error checking completion %q: %v", fullPath, err))
 			continue
 		}
 		if complete {
-			ctx.infof("%s is complete - skipping", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj))
+			ctx.log.Infof("%s is complete - skipping", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj))
 			continue
 		}
 
 		if resourceClient == nil {
 			// initialize client for this Resource. we need
 			// metadata from an object to do this.
-			ctx.infof("Getting client for %v", obj.GroupVersionKind())
+			ctx.log.Infof("Getting client for %v", obj.GroupVersionKind())
 
 			resource := metav1.APIResource{
 				Namespaced: len(namespace) > 0,
@@ -672,7 +659,7 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 
 		// TODO: move to restore item action if/when we add a ShouldRestore() method to the interface
 		if groupResource == kuberesource.Pods && obj.GetAnnotations()[v1.MirrorPodAnnotationKey] != "" {
-			ctx.infof("Not restoring pod because it's a mirror pod")
+			ctx.log.Infof("Not restoring pod because it's a mirror pod")
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -680,7 +667,7 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 			_, found := ctx.backup.Status.VolumeBackups[name]
 			reclaimPolicy, err := collections.GetString(obj.Object, "spec.persistentVolumeReclaimPolicy")
 			if err == nil && !found && reclaimPolicy == "Delete" {
-				ctx.infof("Not restoring PV because it doesn't have a snapshot and its reclaim policy is Delete.")
+				ctx.log.Infof("Not restoring PV because it doesn't have a snapshot and its reclaim policy is Delete.")
 
 				ctx.pvsToProvision.Insert(name)
 
@@ -706,8 +693,8 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 				go func() {
 					defer ctx.resourceWaitGroup.Done()
 
-					if _, err := waitForReady(resourceWatch.ResultChan(), name, isPVReady, time.Minute, ctx.logger); err != nil {
-						ctx.logger.Warnf("Timeout reached waiting for persistent volume %s to become ready", name)
+					if _, err := waitForReady(resourceWatch.ResultChan(), name, isPVReady, time.Minute, ctx.log); err != nil {
+						ctx.log.Warnf("Timeout reached waiting for persistent volume %s to become ready", name)
 						addArkError(&warnings, fmt.Errorf("timeout reached waiting for persistent volume %s to become ready", name))
 					}
 				}()
@@ -722,7 +709,7 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 			}
 
 			if volumeName, exists := spec["volumeName"]; exists && ctx.pvsToProvision.Has(volumeName.(string)) {
-				ctx.infof("Resetting PersistentVolumeClaim %s/%s for dynamic provisioning because its PV %v has a reclaim policy of Delete", namespace, name, volumeName)
+				ctx.log.Infof("Resetting PersistentVolumeClaim %s/%s for dynamic provisioning because its PV %v has a reclaim policy of Delete", namespace, name, volumeName)
 
 				delete(spec, "volumeName")
 
@@ -738,10 +725,10 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 				continue
 			}
 
-			ctx.infof("Executing item action for %v", &groupResource)
+			ctx.log.Infof("Executing item action for %v", &groupResource)
 
 			if logSetter, ok := action.ItemAction.(logging.LogSetter); ok {
-				logSetter.SetLog(ctx.logger)
+				logSetter.SetLog(ctx.log)
 			}
 
 			updatedObj, warning, err := action.Execute(obj, ctx.restore)
@@ -770,6 +757,7 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 
 		// necessary because we may have remapped the namespace
 		// if the namespace is blank, don't create the key
+		originalNamespace := obj.GetNamespace()
 		if namespace != "" {
 			obj.SetNamespace(namespace)
 		}
@@ -777,19 +765,19 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 		// add an ark-restore label to each resource for easy ID
 		addLabel(obj, api.RestoreLabelKey, ctx.restore.Name)
 
-		ctx.infof("Restoring %s: %v", obj.GroupVersionKind().Kind, name)
+		ctx.log.Infof("Restoring %s: %v", obj.GroupVersionKind().Kind, name)
 		createdObj, restoreErr := resourceClient.Create(obj)
 		if apierrors.IsAlreadyExists(restoreErr) {
 			fromCluster, err := resourceClient.Get(name, metav1.GetOptions{})
 			if err != nil {
-				ctx.infof("Error retrieving cluster version of %s: %v", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj), err)
+				ctx.log.Infof("Error retrieving cluster version of %s: %v", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj), err)
 				addToResult(&warnings, namespace, err)
 				continue
 			}
 			// Remove insubstantial metadata
 			fromCluster, err = resetMetadataAndStatus(fromCluster)
 			if err != nil {
-				ctx.infof("Error trying to reset metadata for %s: %v", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj), err)
+				ctx.log.Infof("Error trying to reset metadata for %s: %v", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj), err)
 				addToResult(&warnings, namespace, err)
 				continue
 			}
@@ -804,14 +792,14 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 				case kuberesource.ServiceAccounts:
 					desired, err := mergeServiceAccounts(fromCluster, obj)
 					if err != nil {
-						ctx.infof("error merging secrets for ServiceAccount %s: %v", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj), err)
+						ctx.log.Infof("error merging secrets for ServiceAccount %s: %v", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj), err)
 						addToResult(&warnings, namespace, err)
 						continue
 					}
 
 					patchBytes, err := generatePatch(fromCluster, desired)
 					if err != nil {
-						ctx.infof("error generating patch for ServiceAccount %s: %v", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj), err)
+						ctx.log.Infof("error generating patch for ServiceAccount %s: %v", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj), err)
 						addToResult(&warnings, namespace, err)
 						continue
 					}
@@ -825,7 +813,7 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 					if err != nil {
 						addToResult(&warnings, namespace, err)
 					} else {
-						ctx.infof("ServiceAccount %s successfully updated", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj))
+						ctx.log.Infof("ServiceAccount %s successfully updated", kube.NamespaceAndName(obj))
 					}
 				default:
 					e := errors.Errorf("not restored: %s and is different from backed up version.", restoreErr)
@@ -836,24 +824,24 @@ func (ctx *context) restoreResource(resource, namespace, resourcePath string) (a
 		}
 		// Error was something other than an AlreadyExists
 		if restoreErr != nil {
-			ctx.infof("error restoring %s: %v", name, err)
+			ctx.log.Infof("error restoring %s: %v", name, err)
 			addToResult(&errs, namespace, fmt.Errorf("error restoring %s: %v", fullPath, restoreErr))
 			continue
 		}
 
 		if groupResource == kuberesource.Pods && len(restic.GetPodSnapshotAnnotations(obj)) > 0 {
 			if ctx.resticRestorer == nil {
-				ctx.logger.Warn("No restic restorer, not restoring pod's volumes")
+				ctx.log.Warn("No restic restorer, not restoring pod's volumes")
 			} else {
 				ctx.globalWaitGroup.GoErrorSlice(func() []error {
 					pod := new(v1.Pod)
 					if err := runtime.DefaultUnstructuredConverter.FromUnstructured(createdObj.UnstructuredContent(), &pod); err != nil {
-						ctx.logger.WithError(err).Error("error converting unstructured pod")
+						ctx.log.WithError(err).Error("error converting unstructured pod")
 						return []error{err}
 					}
 
-					if errs := ctx.resticRestorer.RestorePodVolumes(ctx.restore, pod, ctx.logger); errs != nil {
-						ctx.logger.WithError(kubeerrs.NewAggregate(errs)).Error("unable to successfully complete restic restores of pod's volumes")
+					if errs := ctx.resticRestorer.RestorePodVolumes(ctx.restore, pod, originalNamespace, ctx.log); errs != nil {
+						ctx.log.WithError(kubeerrs.NewAggregate(errs)).Error("unable to successfully complete restic restores of pod's volumes")
 						return errs
 					}
 
@@ -1084,7 +1072,7 @@ func (ctx *context) unmarshal(filePath string) (*unstructured.Unstructured, erro
 func (ctx *context) unzipAndExtractBackup(src io.Reader) (string, error) {
 	gzr, err := gzip.NewReader(src)
 	if err != nil {
-		ctx.infof("error creating gzip reader: %v", err)
+		ctx.log.Infof("error creating gzip reader: %v", err)
 		return "", err
 	}
 	defer gzr.Close()
@@ -1097,7 +1085,7 @@ func (ctx *context) unzipAndExtractBackup(src io.Reader) (string, error) {
 func (ctx *context) readBackup(tarRdr *tar.Reader) (string, error) {
 	dir, err := ctx.fileSystem.TempDir("", "")
 	if err != nil {
-		ctx.infof("error creating temp dir: %v", err)
+		ctx.log.Infof("error creating temp dir: %v", err)
 		return "", err
 	}
 
@@ -1108,7 +1096,7 @@ func (ctx *context) readBackup(tarRdr *tar.Reader) (string, error) {
 			break
 		}
 		if err != nil {
-			ctx.infof("error reading tar: %v", err)
+			ctx.log.Infof("error reading tar: %v", err)
 			return "", err
 		}
 
@@ -1118,7 +1106,7 @@ func (ctx *context) readBackup(tarRdr *tar.Reader) (string, error) {
 		case tar.TypeDir:
 			err := ctx.fileSystem.MkdirAll(target, header.FileInfo().Mode())
 			if err != nil {
-				ctx.infof("mkdirall error: %v", err)
+				ctx.log.Infof("mkdirall error: %v", err)
 				return "", err
 			}
 
@@ -1126,7 +1114,7 @@ func (ctx *context) readBackup(tarRdr *tar.Reader) (string, error) {
 			// make sure we have the directory created
 			err := ctx.fileSystem.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(target), header.FileInfo().Mode())
 			if err != nil {
-				ctx.infof("mkdirall error: %v", err)
+				ctx.log.Infof("mkdirall error: %v", err)
 				return "", err
 			}
 
@@ -1138,7 +1126,7 @@ func (ctx *context) readBackup(tarRdr *tar.Reader) (string, error) {
 			defer file.Close()
 
 			if _, err := io.Copy(file, tarRdr); err != nil {
-				ctx.infof("error copying: %v", err)
+				ctx.log.Infof("error copying: %v", err)
 				return "", err
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/restore/restore_test.go b/pkg/restore/restore_test.go
index a374888d7..8fdbac361 100644
--- a/pkg/restore/restore_test.go
+++ b/pkg/restore/restore_test.go
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func TestRestoreNamespaceFiltering(t *testing.T) {
 				restore:              test.restore,
 				namespaceClient:      &fakeNamespaceClient{},
 				fileSystem:           test.fileSystem,
-				logger:               log,
+				log:                  log,
 				prioritizedResources: test.prioritizedResources,
 			}
 
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ func TestRestorePriority(t *testing.T) {
 				namespaceClient:      &fakeNamespaceClient{},
 				fileSystem:           test.fileSystem,
 				prioritizedResources: test.prioritizedResources,
-				logger:               log,
+				log:                  log,
 			}
 
 			warnings, errors := ctx.restoreFromDir(test.baseDir)
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ func TestNamespaceRemapping(t *testing.T) {
 		prioritizedResources: prioritizedResources,
 		restore:              restore,
 		backup:               &api.Backup{},
-		logger:               arktest.NewLogger(),
+		log:                  arktest.NewLogger(),
 	}
 
 	warnings, errors := ctx.restoreFromDir(baseDir)
@@ -432,16 +432,6 @@ func TestRestoreResourceForNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 			labelSelector: labels.SelectorFromSet(labels.Set(map[string]string{"foo": "not-bar"})),
 			fileSystem:    arktest.NewFakeFileSystem().WithFile("configmaps/cm-1.json", newTestConfigMap().WithLabels(map[string]string{"foo": "bar"}).ToJSON()),
 		},
-		{
-			name:          "items with controller owner are skipped",
-			namespace:     "ns-1",
-			resourcePath:  "configmaps",
-			labelSelector: labels.NewSelector(),
-			fileSystem: arktest.NewFakeFileSystem().
-				WithFile("configmaps/cm-1.json", newTestConfigMap().WithControllerOwner().ToJSON()).
-				WithFile("configmaps/cm-2.json", newNamedTestConfigMap("cm-2").ToJSON()),
-			expectedObjs: toUnstructured(newNamedTestConfigMap("cm-2").WithArkLabel("my-restore").ConfigMap),
-		},
 		{
 			name:          "namespace is remapped",
 			namespace:     "ns-2",
@@ -628,7 +618,7 @@ func TestRestoreResourceForNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 				backup:     &api.Backup{},
-				logger:     arktest.NewLogger(),
+				log:        arktest.NewLogger(),
 				pvRestorer: &pvRestorer{},
 			}
 
@@ -714,7 +704,7 @@ func TestRestoringExistingServiceAccount(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 				backup: &api.Backup{},
-				logger: arktest.NewLogger(),
+				log:    arktest.NewLogger(),
 			}
 			warnings, errors := ctx.restoreResource("serviceaccounts", "ns-1", "foo/resources/serviceaccounts/namespaces/ns-1/")
 
@@ -900,7 +890,7 @@ status:
 					},
 				},
 				backup:         backup,
-				logger:         arktest.NewLogger(),
+				log:            arktest.NewLogger(),
 				pvsToProvision: sets.NewString(),
 				pvRestorer:     pvRestorer,
 			}
@@ -1404,9 +1394,18 @@ func (obj *testUnstructured) WithStatusField(field string, value interface{}) *t
 }
 
 func (obj *testUnstructured) WithAnnotations(fields ...string) *testUnstructured {
-	annotations := make(map[string]interface{})
+	vals := map[string]string{}
 	for _, field := range fields {
-		annotations[field] = "foo"
+		vals[field] = "foo"
+	}
+
+	return obj.WithAnnotationValues(vals)
+}
+
+func (obj *testUnstructured) WithAnnotationValues(fieldVals map[string]string) *testUnstructured {
+	annotations := make(map[string]interface{})
+	for field, val := range fieldVals {
+		annotations[field] = val
 	}
 
 	obj = obj.WithMetadataField("annotations", annotations)
diff --git a/pkg/restore/service_action.go b/pkg/restore/service_action.go
index 3f48b91de..9395a0fe1 100644
--- a/pkg/restore/service_action.go
+++ b/pkg/restore/service_action.go
@@ -17,14 +17,21 @@ limitations under the License.
 package restore
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
+
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 
+	corev1api "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 
 	api "github.com/heptio/ark/pkg/apis/ark/v1"
 	"github.com/heptio/ark/pkg/util/collections"
 )
 
+const annotationLastAppliedConfig = "kubectl.kubernetes.io/last-applied-configuration"
+
 type serviceAction struct {
 	log logrus.FieldLogger
 }
@@ -52,15 +59,55 @@ func (a *serviceAction) Execute(obj runtime.Unstructured, restore *api.Restore)
 		delete(spec, "clusterIP")
 	}
 
-	ports, err := collections.GetSlice(obj.UnstructuredContent(), "spec.ports")
+	err = deleteNodePorts(obj, &spec)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
+	return obj, nil, nil
+}
+
+func getPreservedPorts(obj runtime.Unstructured) (map[string]bool, error) {
+	preservedPorts := map[string]bool{}
+	metadata, err := meta.Accessor(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.WithStack(err)
+	}
+	if lac, ok := metadata.GetAnnotations()[annotationLastAppliedConfig]; ok {
+		var svc corev1api.Service
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(lac), &svc); err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.WithStack(err)
+		}
+		for _, port := range svc.Spec.Ports {
+			if port.NodePort > 0 {
+				preservedPorts[port.Name] = true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return preservedPorts, nil
+}
+
+func deleteNodePorts(obj runtime.Unstructured, spec *map[string]interface{}) error {
+	preservedPorts, err := getPreservedPorts(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	ports, err := collections.GetSlice(obj.UnstructuredContent(), "spec.ports")
+	serviceType, _ := collections.GetString(*spec, "type")
+	if err != nil && serviceType != "ExternalName" {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	for _, port := range ports {
 		p := port.(map[string]interface{})
+		var name string
+		if nameVal, ok := p["name"]; ok {
+			name = nameVal.(string)
+		}
+		if preservedPorts[name] {
+			continue
+		}
 		delete(p, "nodePort")
 	}
-
-	return obj, nil, nil
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/restore/service_action_test.go b/pkg/restore/service_action_test.go
index 3e6ed173b..7b9198756 100644
--- a/pkg/restore/service_action_test.go
+++ b/pkg/restore/service_action_test.go
@@ -17,15 +17,33 @@ limitations under the License.
 package restore
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"testing"
 
 	arktest "github.com/heptio/ark/pkg/util/test"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 
+	corev1api "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 )
 
+func svcJSON(ports ...corev1api.ServicePort) string {
+	svc := corev1api.Service{
+		Spec: corev1api.ServiceSpec{
+			Ports: ports,
+		},
+	}
+
+	data, err := json.Marshal(svc)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	return string(data)
+}
+
 func TestServiceActionExecute(t *testing.T) {
+
 	tests := []struct {
 		name        string
 		obj         runtime.Unstructured
@@ -37,6 +55,11 @@ func TestServiceActionExecute(t *testing.T) {
 			obj:         NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").Unstructured,
 			expectedErr: true,
 		},
+		{
+			name:        "no spec ports should error",
+			obj:         NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").WithSpec().Unstructured,
+			expectedErr: true,
+		},
 		{
 			name:        "clusterIP (only) should be deleted from spec",
 			obj:         NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").WithSpec("clusterIP", "foo").WithSpecField("ports", []interface{}{}).Unstructured,
@@ -63,6 +86,97 @@ func TestServiceActionExecute(t *testing.T) {
 					map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"},
 				}).Unstructured,
 		},
+		{
+			name: "unnamed nodePort should be deleted when missing in annotation",
+			obj: NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").
+				WithAnnotationValues(map[string]string{
+					annotationLastAppliedConfig: svcJSON(),
+				}).
+				WithSpecField("ports", []interface{}{
+					map[string]interface{}{"nodePort": 8080},
+				}).Unstructured,
+			expectedErr: false,
+			expectedRes: NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").
+				WithAnnotationValues(map[string]string{
+					annotationLastAppliedConfig: svcJSON(),
+				}).
+				WithSpecField("ports", []interface{}{
+					map[string]interface{}{},
+				}).Unstructured,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "unnamed nodePort should be preserved when specified in annotation",
+			obj: NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").
+				WithAnnotationValues(map[string]string{
+					annotationLastAppliedConfig: svcJSON(corev1api.ServicePort{NodePort: 8080}),
+				}).
+				WithSpecField("ports", []interface{}{
+					map[string]interface{}{
+						"nodePort": 8080,
+					},
+				}).Unstructured,
+			expectedErr: false,
+			expectedRes: NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").
+				WithAnnotationValues(map[string]string{
+					annotationLastAppliedConfig: svcJSON(corev1api.ServicePort{NodePort: 8080}),
+				}).
+				WithSpecField("ports", []interface{}{
+					map[string]interface{}{
+						"nodePort": 8080,
+					},
+				}).Unstructured,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "unnamed nodePort should be deleted when named nodePort specified in annotation",
+			obj: NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").
+				WithAnnotationValues(map[string]string{
+					annotationLastAppliedConfig: svcJSON(corev1api.ServicePort{Name: "http", NodePort: 8080}),
+				}).
+				WithSpecField("ports", []interface{}{
+					map[string]interface{}{
+						"nodePort": 8080,
+					},
+				}).Unstructured,
+			expectedErr: false,
+			expectedRes: NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").
+				WithAnnotationValues(map[string]string{
+					annotationLastAppliedConfig: svcJSON(corev1api.ServicePort{Name: "http", NodePort: 8080}),
+				}).
+				WithSpecField("ports", []interface{}{
+					map[string]interface{}{},
+				}).Unstructured,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "named nodePort should be preserved when specified in annotation",
+			obj: NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").
+				WithAnnotationValues(map[string]string{
+					annotationLastAppliedConfig: svcJSON(corev1api.ServicePort{Name: "http", NodePort: 8080}),
+				}).
+				WithSpecField("ports", []interface{}{
+					map[string]interface{}{
+						"name":     "http",
+						"nodePort": 8080,
+					},
+					map[string]interface{}{
+						"name":     "admin",
+						"nodePort": 9090,
+					},
+				}).Unstructured,
+			expectedErr: false,
+			expectedRes: NewTestUnstructured().WithName("svc-1").
+				WithAnnotationValues(map[string]string{
+					annotationLastAppliedConfig: svcJSON(corev1api.ServicePort{Name: "http", NodePort: 8080}),
+				}).
+				WithSpecField("ports", []interface{}{
+					map[string]interface{}{
+						"name":     "http",
+						"nodePort": 8080,
+					},
+					map[string]interface{}{
+						"name": "admin",
+					},
+				}).Unstructured,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {