diff --git a/tests/gha-run-k8s-common.sh b/tests/gha-run-k8s-common.sh
index 7617f5989e..6e18dc4e9d 100644
--- a/tests/gha-run-k8s-common.sh
+++ b/tests/gha-run-k8s-common.sh
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ function deploy_k3s() {
 	if [ "${ARCH}" = "x86_64" ]; then
 		ARCH=amd64
 	fi
-	kubectl_version=$(/usr/local/bin/k3s kubectl version --short 2>/dev/null | grep "Client Version" | sed -e 's/Client Version: //' -e 's/+k3s[0-9]\+//')
+	kubectl_version=$(/usr/local/bin/k3s kubectl version --client=true 2>/dev/null | grep "Client Version" | sed -e 's/Client Version: //' -e 's/+k3s[0-9]\+//')
 	sudo curl -fL --progress-bar -o /usr/bin/kubectl https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/${kubectl_version}/bin/linux/${ARCH}/kubectl
 	sudo chmod +x /usr/bin/kubectl
 	sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/kubectl