diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_env.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_env.go
index e55a3fa2768..4a00c074a29 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_env.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_env.go
@@ -215,13 +215,17 @@ func (o *EnvOptions) Complete(f cmdutil.Factory, cmd *cobra.Command, args []stri
 	o.Resources = resources
 	o.Cmd = cmd
 
-	o.PrintFlags.Complete(o.DryRun)
-
+	if o.DryRun {
+		// TODO(juanvallejo): This can be cleaned up even further by creating
+		// a PrintFlags struct that binds the --dry-run flag, and whose
+		// ToPrinter method returns a printer that understands how to print
+		// this success message.
+		o.PrintFlags.Complete("%s (dry run)")
+	}
 	printer, err := o.PrintFlags.ToPrinter()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
 	o.PrintObj = func(obj runtime.Object) error {
 		return printer.PrintObj(obj, o.Out)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_env_test.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_env_test.go
index b05bf7562dc..2495f6394fa 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_env_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_env_test.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func TestSetEnvLocal(t *testing.T) {
 	opts := EnvOptions{
 		PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 			JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 			OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 		},
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ func TestSetMultiResourcesEnvLocal(t *testing.T) {
 	opts := EnvOptions{
 		PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 			JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 			OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 		},
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ func TestSetEnvRemote(t *testing.T) {
 			opts := EnvOptions{
 				PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 					JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 					OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 				},
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_image.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_image.go
index 0ae603ad888..c6fe5a2e5aa 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_image.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_image.go
@@ -127,7 +127,9 @@ func (o *ImageOptions) Complete(f cmdutil.Factory, cmd *cobra.Command, args []st
 	o.ResolveImage = f.ResolveImage
 	o.Cmd = cmd
 
-	o.PrintFlags.Complete(o.DryRun)
+	if o.DryRun {
+		o.PrintFlags.Complete("%s (dry run)")
+	}
 
 	printer, err := o.PrintFlags.ToPrinter()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -250,6 +252,11 @@ func (o *ImageOptions) Run() error {
 			continue
 		}
 
+		// no changes
+		if string(patch.Patch) == "{}" || len(patch.Patch) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+
 		if o.Local || o.DryRun {
 			if err := o.PrintObj(patch.Info.AsVersioned()); err != nil {
 				return err
@@ -257,11 +264,6 @@ func (o *ImageOptions) Run() error {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		// no changes
-		if string(patch.Patch) == "{}" || len(patch.Patch) == 0 {
-			continue
-		}
-
 		// patch the change
 		obj, err := resource.NewHelper(info.Client, info.Mapping).Patch(info.Namespace, info.Name, types.StrategicMergePatchType, patch.Patch)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_image_test.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_image_test.go
index b71047493bf..45764a41b33 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_image_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_image_test.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func TestImageLocal(t *testing.T) {
 	opts := ImageOptions{
 		PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 			JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 			OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 		},
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestImageLocal(t *testing.T) {
 func TestSetImageValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	printFlags := &printers.PrintFlags{
 		JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-		NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+		NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 	}
 
 	testCases := []struct {
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func TestSetMultiResourcesImageLocal(t *testing.T) {
 	opts := ImageOptions{
 		PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 			JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 			OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 		},
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ func TestSetImageRemote(t *testing.T) {
 			opts := ImageOptions{
 				PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 					JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 					OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 				},
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_resources.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_resources.go
index 36e8324edf8..812740ad693 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_resources.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_resources.go
@@ -148,13 +148,13 @@ func (o *ResourcesOptions) Complete(f cmdutil.Factory, cmd *cobra.Command, args
 	o.Cmd = cmd
 	o.DryRun = cmdutil.GetDryRunFlag(o.Cmd)
 
-	o.PrintFlags.Complete(o.DryRun)
-
+	if o.DryRun {
+		o.PrintFlags.Complete("%s (dry run)")
+	}
 	printer, err := o.PrintFlags.ToPrinter()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
 	o.PrintObj = func(obj runtime.Object) error {
 		return printer.PrintObj(obj, o.Out)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_resources_test.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_resources_test.go
index ad0d235ccde..457f9c68731 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_resources_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_resources_test.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func TestResourcesLocal(t *testing.T) {
 	opts := ResourcesOptions{
 		PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 			JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 			OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 		},
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func TestSetMultiResourcesLimitsLocal(t *testing.T) {
 	opts := ResourcesOptions{
 		PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 			JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 			OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 		},
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ func TestSetResourcesRemote(t *testing.T) {
 			opts := ResourcesOptions{
 				PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 					JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 					OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 				},
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_selector.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_selector.go
index 6b9dffd06a5..367269d6da1 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_selector.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_selector.go
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ type SelectorOptions struct {
 	selector  *metav1.LabelSelector
 
 	out              io.Writer
-	PrintObject      func(obj runtime.Object) error
 	ClientForMapping func(mapping *meta.RESTMapping) (resource.RESTClient, error)
 
 	PrintObj func(runtime.Object) error
@@ -119,8 +118,6 @@ func (o *SelectorOptions) Complete(f cmdutil.Factory, cmd *cobra.Command, args [
 	o.dryrun = cmdutil.GetDryRunFlag(cmd)
 	o.output = cmdutil.GetFlagString(cmd, "output")
 
-	o.PrintFlags.Complete(o.dryrun)
-
 	cmdNamespace, enforceNamespace, err := f.DefaultNamespace()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -158,14 +155,17 @@ func (o *SelectorOptions) Complete(f cmdutil.Factory, cmd *cobra.Command, args [
 		}
 	}
 
+	if o.dryrun {
+		o.PrintFlags.Complete("%s (dry run)")
+	}
 	printer, err := o.PrintFlags.ToPrinter()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
-	o.PrintObject = func(obj runtime.Object) error {
+	o.PrintObj = func(obj runtime.Object) error {
 		return printer.PrintObj(obj, o.out)
 	}
+
 	o.ClientForMapping = func(mapping *meta.RESTMapping) (resource.RESTClient, error) {
 		return f.ClientForMapping(mapping)
 	}
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ func (o *SelectorOptions) RunSelector() error {
 			return patch.Err
 		}
 		if o.local || o.dryrun {
-			return o.PrintObject(info.Object)
+			return o.PrintObj(info.Object)
 		}
 
 		patched, err := resource.NewHelper(info.Client, info.Mapping).Patch(info.Namespace, info.Name, types.StrategicMergePatchType, patch.Patch)
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ func (o *SelectorOptions) RunSelector() error {
 		}
 
 		info.Refresh(patched, true)
-		return o.PrintObject(patch.Info.AsVersioned())
+		return o.PrintObj(patch.Info.AsVersioned())
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_serviceaccount.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_serviceaccount.go
index 9184d0494b2..954b6b6c17e 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_serviceaccount.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_serviceaccount.go
@@ -120,13 +120,13 @@ func (saConfig *serviceAccountConfig) Complete(f cmdutil.Factory, cmd *cobra.Com
 	saConfig.updatePodSpecForObject = f.UpdatePodSpecForObject
 	saConfig.cmd = cmd
 
-	saConfig.PrintFlags.Complete(saConfig.dryRun)
-
+	if saConfig.dryRun {
+		saConfig.PrintFlags.Complete("%s (dry run)")
+	}
 	printer, err := saConfig.PrintFlags.ToPrinter()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
 	saConfig.PrintObj = func(obj runtime.Object) error {
 		return printer.PrintObj(obj, saConfig.out)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_serviceaccount_test.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_serviceaccount_test.go
index b64d2fd6192..a4d3ffa074e 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_serviceaccount_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_serviceaccount_test.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func TestSetServiceAccountLocal(t *testing.T) {
 			saConfig := serviceAccountConfig{
 				PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 					JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 					OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 				},
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func TestSetServiceAccountMultiLocal(t *testing.T) {
 	opts := serviceAccountConfig{
 		PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 			JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+			NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 			OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 		},
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ func TestSetServiceAccountRemote(t *testing.T) {
 			saConfig := serviceAccountConfig{
 				PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 					JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 					OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 				},
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ func TestServiceAccountValidation(t *testing.T) {
 			saConfig := &serviceAccountConfig{
 				PrintFlags: &printers.PrintFlags{
 					JSONYamlPrintFlags: printers.NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags("", false),
+					NamePrintFlags:     printers.NewNamePrintFlags(""),
 
 					OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 				},
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_subject.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_subject.go
index effafb35514..ea0b1392692 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_subject.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/set/set_subject.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ type SubjectOptions struct {
 	Groups          []string
 	ServiceAccounts []string
 
-	PrintObject func(obj runtime.Object) error
+	PrintObj func(obj runtime.Object) error
 }
 
 func NewCmdSubject(f cmdutil.Factory, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
@@ -117,14 +117,14 @@ func (o *SubjectOptions) Complete(f cmdutil.Factory, cmd *cobra.Command, args []
 	o.Output = cmdutil.GetFlagString(cmd, "output")
 	o.DryRun = cmdutil.GetDryRunFlag(cmd)
 
-	o.PrintFlags.Complete(o.DryRun)
-
+	if o.DryRun {
+		o.PrintFlags.Complete("%s (dry run)")
+	}
 	printer, err := o.PrintFlags.ToPrinter()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
-	o.PrintObject = func(obj runtime.Object) error {
+	o.PrintObj = func(obj runtime.Object) error {
 		return printer.PrintObj(obj, o.Out)
 	}
 
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ func (o *SubjectOptions) Run(f cmdutil.Factory, fn updateSubjects) error {
 		}
 
 		if o.Local || o.DryRun {
-			if err := o.PrintObject(info.Object); err != nil {
+			if err := o.PrintObj(info.Object); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 			continue
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ func (o *SubjectOptions) Run(f cmdutil.Factory, fn updateSubjects) error {
 		}
 		info.Refresh(obj, true)
 
-		return o.PrintObject(info.AsVersioned())
+		return o.PrintObj(info.AsVersioned())
 	}
 	return utilerrors.NewAggregate(allErrs)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/printers/flags.go b/pkg/printers/flags.go
index e0eea991414..8519b85bfa5 100644
--- a/pkg/printers/flags.go
+++ b/pkg/printers/flags.go
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ type PrintFlags struct {
 	OutputFormat *string
 }
 
-func (f *PrintFlags) Complete(dryRun bool) error {
-	f.NamePrintFlags.DryRun = dryRun
+func (f *PrintFlags) Complete(messageTemplate string) error {
+	f.NamePrintFlags.Operation = fmt.Sprintf(messageTemplate, f.NamePrintFlags.Operation)
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -80,6 +80,6 @@ func NewPrintFlags(operation string) *PrintFlags {
 		OutputFormat: &outputFormat,
 
 		JSONYamlPrintFlags: NewJSONYamlPrintFlags(),
-		NamePrintFlags:     NewNamePrintFlags(operation, false),
+		NamePrintFlags:     NewNamePrintFlags(operation),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/printers/name_flags.go b/pkg/printers/name_flags.go
index 24b0f4aefe1..63553c3d0d9 100644
--- a/pkg/printers/name_flags.go
+++ b/pkg/printers/name_flags.go
@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@ import (
 // a resource's fully-qualified Kind.group/name, or a successful
 // message about that resource if an Operation is provided.
 type NamePrintFlags struct {
-	// DryRun indicates whether the "(dry run)" message
-	// should be appended to the finalized "successful"
-	// message printed about an action on an object.
-	DryRun bool
 	// Operation describes the name of the action that
 	// took place on an object, to be included in the
 	// finalized "successful" message.
@@ -53,10 +49,6 @@ func (f *NamePrintFlags) ToPrinter(outputFormat string) (ResourcePrinter, error)
 		Decoders:  decoders,
 	}
 
-	if f.DryRun {
-		namePrinter.Operation = namePrinter.Operation + " (dry run)"
-	}
-
 	outputFormat = strings.ToLower(outputFormat)
 	switch outputFormat {
 	case "name":
@@ -75,9 +67,8 @@ func (f *NamePrintFlags) AddFlags(c *cobra.Command) {}
 
 // NewNamePrintFlags returns flags associated with
 // --name printing, with default values set.
-func NewNamePrintFlags(operation string, dryRun bool) *NamePrintFlags {
+func NewNamePrintFlags(operation string) *NamePrintFlags {
 	return &NamePrintFlags{
 		Operation: operation,
-		DryRun:    dryRun,
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/printers/name_flags_test.go b/pkg/printers/name_flags_test.go
index 6c06d0c0357..ed8d7529f63 100644
--- a/pkg/printers/name_flags_test.go
+++ b/pkg/printers/name_flags_test.go
@@ -49,12 +49,6 @@ func TestNamePrinterSupportsExpectedFormats(t *testing.T) {
 			operation:      "patched",
 			expectedOutput: "pod/foo",
 		},
-		{
-			name:           "empty output format and an operation prints success message with dry run",
-			operation:      "patched",
-			dryRun:         true,
-			expectedOutput: "pod/foo patched (dry run)",
-		},
 		{
 			name:          "operation and no valid \"name\" output does not match a printer",
 			operation:     "patched",
@@ -83,7 +77,6 @@ func TestNamePrinterSupportsExpectedFormats(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			printFlags := printers.NamePrintFlags{
 				Operation: tc.operation,
-				DryRun:    tc.dryRun,
 			}
 
 			p, err := printFlags.ToPrinter(tc.outputFormat)
diff --git a/pkg/printers/printers.go b/pkg/printers/printers.go
index e6791124e75..86f52361854 100644
--- a/pkg/printers/printers.go
+++ b/pkg/printers/printers.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func GetStandardPrinter(typer runtime.ObjectTyper, encoder runtime.Encoder, deco
 		printer = p
 
 	case "name":
-		nameFlags := NewNamePrintFlags("", false)
+		nameFlags := NewNamePrintFlags("")
 		namePrinter, err := nameFlags.ToPrinter(format)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err