diff --git a/pkg/api/v1/register.go b/pkg/api/v1/register.go
index 5c2dfddd..c70d6ac5 100644
--- a/pkg/api/v1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/api/v1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs, addFastPathConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs, addFastPathConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/apps/v1beta1/register.go b/pkg/apis/apps/v1beta1/register.go
index 6e618e1d..07780965 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/apps/v1beta1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/apps/v1beta1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/authentication/v1/register.go b/pkg/apis/authentication/v1/register.go
index 8661169a..b4ab6519 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/authentication/v1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/authentication/v1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/authentication/v1beta1/register.go b/pkg/apis/authentication/v1beta1/register.go
index ddaa1970..d3ae1e4b 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/authentication/v1beta1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/authentication/v1beta1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/authorization/v1/register.go b/pkg/apis/authorization/v1/register.go
index 909bc0a7..060bf981 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/authorization/v1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/authorization/v1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/authorization/v1beta1/register.go b/pkg/apis/authorization/v1beta1/register.go
index 66549ed8..afcce0b7 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/authorization/v1beta1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/authorization/v1beta1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/autoscaling/v1/register.go b/pkg/apis/autoscaling/v1/register.go
index aaa22526..20c9db5f 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/autoscaling/v1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/autoscaling/v1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/autoscaling/v2alpha1/register.go b/pkg/apis/autoscaling/v2alpha1/register.go
index 29b40faf..e623be7e 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/autoscaling/v2alpha1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/autoscaling/v2alpha1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/batch/v1/register.go b/pkg/apis/batch/v1/register.go
index 4ba570d1..9256e829 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/batch/v1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/batch/v1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/batch/v2alpha1/register.go b/pkg/apis/batch/v2alpha1/register.go
index 5286ca4a..11a39782 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/batch/v2alpha1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/batch/v2alpha1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/certificates/v1beta1/register.go b/pkg/apis/certificates/v1beta1/register.go
index 6574de97..82f73cd6 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/certificates/v1beta1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/certificates/v1beta1/register.go
@@ -39,10 +39,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addConversionFuncs, addDefaultingFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addConversionFuncs, addDefaultingFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/extensions/v1beta1/register.go b/pkg/apis/extensions/v1beta1/register.go
index fa5b2e1b..bf8616b8 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/extensions/v1beta1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/extensions/v1beta1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs, addConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/policy/v1beta1/register.go b/pkg/apis/policy/v1beta1/register.go
index 75f9f7eb..a3ccc94e 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/policy/v1beta1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/policy/v1beta1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, RegisterDefaults)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, RegisterDefaults)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/rbac/v1alpha1/register.go b/pkg/apis/rbac/v1alpha1/register.go
index 3977e99c..956c800d 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/rbac/v1alpha1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/rbac/v1alpha1/register.go
@@ -33,10 +33,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/rbac/v1beta1/register.go b/pkg/apis/rbac/v1beta1/register.go
index cab2e77e..aa64c0c6 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/rbac/v1beta1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/rbac/v1beta1/register.go
@@ -33,10 +33,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/settings/v1alpha1/register.go b/pkg/apis/settings/v1alpha1/register.go
index 205fed92..ddcd2259 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/settings/v1alpha1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/settings/v1alpha1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, RegisterDefaults)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, RegisterDefaults)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/storage/v1/register.go b/pkg/apis/storage/v1/register.go
index b8dbd7b8..a727a9b2 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/storage/v1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/storage/v1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, RegisterDefaults)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, RegisterDefaults)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/pkg/apis/storage/v1beta1/register.go b/pkg/apis/storage/v1beta1/register.go
index 9f3f55b1..f10a1a57 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/storage/v1beta1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/storage/v1beta1/register.go
@@ -34,10 +34,20 @@ func Resource(resource string) schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, RegisterDefaults)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, RegisterDefaults)
+}
+
 // Adds the list of known types to api.Scheme.
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
diff --git a/tools/clientcmd/api/v1/register.go b/tools/clientcmd/api/v1/register.go
index bc87706d..7b91d509 100644
--- a/tools/clientcmd/api/v1/register.go
+++ b/tools/clientcmd/api/v1/register.go
@@ -26,10 +26,20 @@ import (
 var SchemeGroupVersion = schema.GroupVersion{Group: "", Version: "v1"}
 
 var (
-	SchemeBuilder = runtime.NewSchemeBuilder(addKnownTypes, addConversionFuncs)
-	AddToScheme   = SchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
+	// TODO: move SchemeBuilder with zz_generated.deepcopy.go to k8s.io/api.
+	// localSchemeBuilder and AddToScheme will stay in k8s.io/kubernetes.
+	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
+	localSchemeBuilder = &SchemeBuilder
+	AddToScheme        = localSchemeBuilder.AddToScheme
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
+	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
+	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addConversionFuncs)
+}
+
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
 		&Config{},