diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/server/filters/priority-and-fairness.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/server/filters/priority-and-fairness.go
index 8b95021c747e..f4eefcbdb1a5 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/server/filters/priority-and-fairness.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/server/filters/priority-and-fairness.go
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func WithPriorityAndFairness(
 		}
 
 		var classification *PriorityAndFairnessClassification
-		estimateWork := func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string) flowcontrolrequest.WorkEstimate {
+		noteFn := func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string) {
 			classification = &PriorityAndFairnessClassification{
 				FlowSchemaName:    fs.Name,
 				FlowSchemaUID:     fs.UID,
@@ -111,7 +111,19 @@ func WithPriorityAndFairness(
 			httplog.AddKeyValue(ctx, "apf_pl", truncateLogField(pl.Name))
 			httplog.AddKeyValue(ctx, "apf_fs", truncateLogField(fs.Name))
 			httplog.AddKeyValue(ctx, "apf_fd", truncateLogField(flowDistinguisher))
-			return workEstimator(r, fs.Name, pl.Name)
+		}
+		// estimateWork is called, if at all, after noteFn
+		estimateWork := func() flowcontrolrequest.WorkEstimate {
+			if classification == nil {
+				// workEstimator is being invoked before classification of
+				// the request has completed, we should never be here though.
+				klog.ErrorS(fmt.Errorf("workEstimator is being invoked before classification of the request has completed"),
+					"Using empty FlowSchema and PriorityLevelConfiguration name", "verb", r.Method, "URI", r.RequestURI)
+
+				return workEstimator(r, "", "")
+			}
+
+			return workEstimator(r, classification.FlowSchemaName, classification.PriorityLevelName)
 		}
 
 		var served bool
@@ -235,7 +247,7 @@ func WithPriorityAndFairness(
 				// Note that Handle will return irrespective of whether the request
 				// executes or is rejected. In the latter case, the function will return
 				// without calling the passed `execute` function.
-				fcIfc.Handle(handleCtx, digest, estimateWork, queueNote, execute)
+				fcIfc.Handle(handleCtx, digest, noteFn, estimateWork, queueNote, execute)
 			}()
 
 			select {
@@ -266,7 +278,7 @@ func WithPriorityAndFairness(
 				handler.ServeHTTP(w, r)
 			}
 
-			fcIfc.Handle(ctx, digest, estimateWork, queueNote, execute)
+			fcIfc.Handle(ctx, digest, noteFn, estimateWork, queueNote, execute)
 		}
 
 		if !served {
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/server/filters/priority-and-fairness_test.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/server/filters/priority-and-fairness_test.go
index d4619023bba4..42673aae5afd 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/server/filters/priority-and-fairness_test.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/server/filters/priority-and-fairness_test.go
@@ -87,14 +87,15 @@ func (t fakeApfFilter) MaintainObservations(stopCh <-chan struct{}) {
 
 func (t fakeApfFilter) Handle(ctx context.Context,
 	requestDigest utilflowcontrol.RequestDigest,
-	workEstimator func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string) fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
+	noteFn func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string),
+	workEstimator func() fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
 	queueNoteFn fq.QueueNoteFn,
 	execFn func(),
 ) {
 	if t.mockDecision == decisionSkipFilter {
 		panic("Handle should not be invoked")
 	}
-	workEstimator(bootstrap.SuggestedFlowSchemaGlobalDefault, bootstrap.SuggestedPriorityLevelConfigurationGlobalDefault, requestDigest.User.GetName())
+	noteFn(bootstrap.SuggestedFlowSchemaGlobalDefault, bootstrap.SuggestedPriorityLevelConfigurationGlobalDefault, requestDigest.User.GetName())
 	switch t.mockDecision {
 	case decisionNoQueuingExecute:
 		execFn()
@@ -390,7 +391,8 @@ func newFakeWatchApfFilter(capacity int) *fakeWatchApfFilter {
 
 func (f *fakeWatchApfFilter) Handle(ctx context.Context,
 	requestDigest utilflowcontrol.RequestDigest,
-	_ func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string) fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
+	_ func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string),
+	_ func() fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
 	_ fq.QueueNoteFn,
 	execFn func(),
 ) {
@@ -640,11 +642,13 @@ type fakeFilterRequestDigest struct {
 
 func (f *fakeFilterRequestDigest) Handle(ctx context.Context,
 	requestDigest utilflowcontrol.RequestDigest,
-	workEstimator func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string) fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
+	noteFn func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string),
+	workEstimator func() fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
 	_ fq.QueueNoteFn, _ func(),
 ) {
 	f.requestDigestGot = &requestDigest
-	f.workEstimateGot = workEstimator(bootstrap.MandatoryFlowSchemaCatchAll, bootstrap.MandatoryPriorityLevelConfigurationCatchAll, "")
+	noteFn(bootstrap.MandatoryFlowSchemaCatchAll, bootstrap.MandatoryPriorityLevelConfigurationCatchAll, "")
+	f.workEstimateGot = workEstimator()
 }
 
 func TestApfWithRequestDigest(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/apf_controller.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/apf_controller.go
index 7d53dbee7e90..cf3aeba0c2da 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/apf_controller.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/apf_controller.go
@@ -799,7 +799,10 @@ func (immediateRequest) Finish(execute func()) bool {
 // The returned bool indicates whether the request is exempt from
 // limitation.  The startWaitingTime is when the request started
 // waiting in its queue, or `Time{}` if this did not happen.
-func (cfgCtlr *configController) startRequest(ctx context.Context, rd RequestDigest, workEstimator func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string) fcrequest.WorkEstimate, queueNoteFn fq.QueueNoteFn) (fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, isExempt bool, req fq.Request, startWaitingTime time.Time) {
+func (cfgCtlr *configController) startRequest(ctx context.Context, rd RequestDigest,
+	noteFn func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string),
+	workEstimator func() fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
+	queueNoteFn fq.QueueNoteFn) (fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, isExempt bool, req fq.Request, startWaitingTime time.Time) {
 	klog.V(7).Infof("startRequest(%#+v)", rd)
 	cfgCtlr.lock.RLock()
 	defer cfgCtlr.lock.RUnlock()
@@ -830,6 +833,7 @@ func (cfgCtlr *configController) startRequest(ctx context.Context, rd RequestDig
 	plName := selectedFlowSchema.Spec.PriorityLevelConfiguration.Name
 	plState := cfgCtlr.priorityLevelStates[plName]
 	if plState.pl.Spec.Type == flowcontrol.PriorityLevelEnablementExempt {
+		noteFn(selectedFlowSchema, plState.pl, "")
 		klog.V(7).Infof("startRequest(%#+v) => fsName=%q, distMethod=%#+v, plName=%q, immediate", rd, selectedFlowSchema.Name, selectedFlowSchema.Spec.DistinguisherMethod, plName)
 		return selectedFlowSchema, plState.pl, true, immediateRequest{}, time.Time{}
 	}
@@ -843,7 +847,10 @@ func (cfgCtlr *configController) startRequest(ctx context.Context, rd RequestDig
 		flowDistinguisher = computeFlowDistinguisher(rd, selectedFlowSchema.Spec.DistinguisherMethod)
 		hashValue = hashFlowID(selectedFlowSchema.Name, flowDistinguisher)
 	}
-	workEstimate := workEstimator(selectedFlowSchema, plState.pl, flowDistinguisher)
+
+	noteFn(selectedFlowSchema, plState.pl, flowDistinguisher)
+	workEstimate := workEstimator()
+
 	startWaitingTime = time.Now()
 	klog.V(7).Infof("startRequest(%#+v) => fsName=%q, distMethod=%#+v, plName=%q, numQueues=%d", rd, selectedFlowSchema.Name, selectedFlowSchema.Spec.DistinguisherMethod, plName, numQueues)
 	req, idle := plState.queues.StartRequest(ctx, &workEstimate, hashValue, flowDistinguisher, selectedFlowSchema.Name, rd.RequestInfo, rd.User, queueNoteFn)
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/apf_filter.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/apf_filter.go
index 67149fd836f6..005a95099be5 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/apf_filter.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/apf_filter.go
@@ -42,10 +42,14 @@ const ConfigConsumerAsFieldManager = "api-priority-and-fairness-config-consumer-
 // Interface defines how the API Priority and Fairness filter interacts with the underlying system.
 type Interface interface {
 	// Handle takes care of queuing and dispatching a request
-	// characterized by the given digest.  The given `workEstimator` will be
-	// invoked with the results of request classification and must return the
-	// work parameters for the request.  If the
-	// request is queued then `queueNoteFn` will be called twice,
+	// characterized by the given digest.  The given `noteFn` will be
+	// invoked with the results of request classification.
+	// The given `workEstimator` is called, if at all, after noteFn.
+	// `workEstimator` will be invoked only when the request
+	//  is classified as non 'exempt'.
+	// 'workEstimator', when invoked, must return the
+	// work parameters for the request.
+	// If the request is queued then `queueNoteFn` will be called twice,
 	// first with `true` and then with `false`; otherwise
 	// `queueNoteFn` will not be called at all.  If Handle decides
 	// that the request should be executed then `execute()` will be
@@ -55,7 +59,8 @@ type Interface interface {
 	// ctx is cancelled or times out.
 	Handle(ctx context.Context,
 		requestDigest RequestDigest,
-		workEstimator func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string) fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
+		noteFn func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string),
+		workEstimator func() fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
 		queueNoteFn fq.QueueNoteFn,
 		execFn func(),
 	)
@@ -150,10 +155,11 @@ func NewTestable(config TestableConfig) Interface {
 }
 
 func (cfgCtlr *configController) Handle(ctx context.Context, requestDigest RequestDigest,
-	workEstimator func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string) fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
+	noteFn func(fs *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, pl *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, flowDistinguisher string),
+	workEstimator func() fcrequest.WorkEstimate,
 	queueNoteFn fq.QueueNoteFn,
 	execFn func()) {
-	fs, pl, isExempt, req, startWaitingTime := cfgCtlr.startRequest(ctx, requestDigest, workEstimator, queueNoteFn)
+	fs, pl, isExempt, req, startWaitingTime := cfgCtlr.startRequest(ctx, requestDigest, noteFn, workEstimator, queueNoteFn)
 	queued := startWaitingTime != time.Time{}
 	if req == nil {
 		if queued {
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/controller_test.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/controller_test.go
index 9a40fb719296..f3eedeb962e0 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/controller_test.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/controller_test.go
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ func checkNewFS(cts *ctlrTestState, rng *rand.Rand, trialName string, ftr *fsTes
 				startWG.Add(1)
 				go func(matches, isResource bool, rdu RequestDigest) {
 					expectedMatch := matches && ftr.wellFormed && (fsPrecedes(fs, catchAlls[isResource]) || fs.Name == catchAlls[isResource].Name)
-					ctlr.Handle(ctx, rdu, func(matchFS *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, matchPL *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, _ string) fcrequest.WorkEstimate {
+					ctlr.Handle(ctx, rdu, func(matchFS *flowcontrol.FlowSchema, matchPL *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration, _ string) {
 						matchIsExempt := matchPL.Spec.Type == flowcontrol.PriorityLevelEnablementExempt
 						if testDebugLogs {
 							t.Logf("Considering FlowSchema %s, expectedMatch=%v, isResource=%v: Handle(%#+v) => note(fs=%s, pl=%s, isExempt=%v)", fs.Name, expectedMatch, isResource, rdu, matchFS.Name, matchPL.Name, matchIsExempt)
@@ -475,6 +475,7 @@ func checkNewFS(cts *ctlrTestState, rng *rand.Rand, trialName string, ftr *fsTes
 								t.Errorf("Fail at %s/%s: expected=%v, actual=%v", trialName, fs.Name, fs.Spec.PriorityLevelConfiguration.Name, matchPL.Name)
 							}
 						}
+					}, func() fcrequest.WorkEstimate {
 						return fcrequest.WorkEstimate{InitialSeats: 1}
 					}, func(inQueue bool) {
 					}, func() {