diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/5211-cleverhu b/changelogs/unreleased/5211-cleverhu
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1ed39117cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/5211-cleverhu
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+fix run preHook and postHook on completed pods
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pkg/podexec/pod_command_executor.go b/pkg/podexec/pod_command_executor.go
index 569fca4e58..b268d77a39 100644
--- a/pkg/podexec/pod_command_executor.go
+++ b/pkg/podexec/pod_command_executor.go
@@ -123,6 +123,12 @@ func (e *defaultPodCommandExecutor) ExecutePodCommand(log logrus.FieldLogger, it
 			"hookTimeout":   localHook.Timeout,
 		},
 	)
+
+	if pod.Status.Phase == corev1api.PodSucceeded || pod.Status.Phase == corev1api.PodFailed {
+		hookLog.Infof("Pod entered phase %s before some post-backup exec hooks ran", pod.Status.Phase)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	hookLog.Info("running exec hook")
 
 	req := e.restClient.Post().
diff --git a/pkg/podexec/pod_command_executor_test.go b/pkg/podexec/pod_command_executor_test.go
index 3f6937192e..bdd960a592 100644
--- a/pkg/podexec/pod_command_executor_test.go
+++ b/pkg/podexec/pod_command_executor_test.go
@@ -262,6 +262,37 @@ func TestEnsureContainerExists(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
+func TestPodCompeted(t *testing.T) {
+	pod := &corev1api.Pod{
+		Spec: corev1api.PodSpec{
+			Containers: []corev1api.Container{
+				{
+					Name: "foo",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		Status: corev1api.PodStatus{
+			Phase: corev1api.PodSucceeded,
+		},
+	}
+
+	obj, err := runtime.DefaultUnstructuredConverter.ToUnstructured(pod)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	clientConfig := &rest.Config{}
+	poster := &mockPoster{}
+	defer poster.AssertExpectations(t)
+	podCommandExecutor := NewPodCommandExecutor(clientConfig, poster).(*defaultPodCommandExecutor)
+
+	hook := v1.ExecHook{
+		Container: "foo",
+		Command:   []string{"some", "command"},
+	}
+
+	err = podCommandExecutor.ExecutePodCommand(velerotest.NewLogger(), obj, "namespace", "name", "hookName", &hook)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
 type mockStreamExecutorFactory struct {
 	mock.Mock
 }