diff --git a/hack/local-up-cluster.sh b/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
index 25ba4a09d7..2668af008f 100755
--- a/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
+++ b/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ KUBE_PROXY_MODE=${KUBE_PROXY_MODE:-""}
 ENABLE_CLUSTER_DNS=${KUBE_ENABLE_CLUSTER_DNS:-true}
 DNS_SERVER_IP=${KUBE_DNS_SERVER_IP:-10.0.0.10}
 DNS_DOMAIN=${KUBE_DNS_NAME:-"cluster.local"}
-KUBECTL=${KUBECTL:-cluster/kubectl.sh}
+KUBECTL=${KUBECTL:-"${KUBE_ROOT}/cluster/kubectl.sh"}
 WAIT_FOR_URL_API_SERVER=${WAIT_FOR_URL_API_SERVER:-60}
 MAX_TIME_FOR_URL_API_SERVER=${MAX_TIME_FOR_URL_API_SERVER:-1}
 ENABLE_DAEMON=${ENABLE_DAEMON:-false}