diff --git a/hack/lib/golang.sh b/hack/lib/golang.sh
index e1a55073b89..9beeac6de31 100755
--- a/hack/lib/golang.sh
+++ b/hack/lib/golang.sh
@@ -329,11 +329,11 @@ EOF
 
   local go_version
   go_version=($(go version))
-  if [[ "${go_version[2]}" < "go1.6" && "${go_version[2]}" != "devel" ]]; then
+  if [[ "${go_version[2]}" < "go1.8" && "${go_version[2]}" != "devel" ]]; then
     kube::log::usage_from_stdin <<EOF
 Detected go version: ${go_version[*]}.
-Kubernetes requires go version 1.6 or greater.
-Please install Go version 1.6 or later.
+Kubernetes requires go version 1.8 or greater.
+Please install Go version 1.8 or later.
 EOF
     return 2
   fi