diff --git a/hack/local-up-cluster.sh b/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
index a2062b4ca9..7415a7cef0 100755
--- a/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
+++ b/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
@@ -751,7 +751,7 @@ function start_kubelet {
 
     # shellcheck disable=SC2206
     all_kubelet_flags=(
-      ${priv_arg}
+      ${priv_arg:+"$priv_arg"}
       "--v=${LOG_LEVEL}"
       "--vmodule=${LOG_SPEC}"
       "--chaos-chance=${CHAOS_CHANCE}"