diff --git a/cluster/gce/util.sh b/cluster/gce/util.sh
index c8a54b0adf7..5ce8bc2d939 100755
--- a/cluster/gce/util.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/util.sh
@@ -1328,7 +1328,7 @@ function kube-down() {
     done
   fi
 
-  local -r REPLICA_NAME="$(get-replica-name)"
+  local -r REPLICA_NAME="${KUBE_REPLICA_NAME:-$(get-replica-name)}"
 
   set-existing-master