diff --git a/test/conformance/testdata/conformance.yaml b/test/conformance/testdata/conformance.yaml
index 5b2c3e97ec7..3879ba3a274 100755
--- a/test/conformance/testdata/conformance.yaml
+++ b/test/conformance/testdata/conformance.yaml
@@ -1476,9 +1476,9 @@
   codename: '[sig-cli] Kubectl client Kubectl server-side dry-run should check if
     kubectl can dry-run update Pods [Conformance]'
   description: The command 'kubectl run' must create a pod with the specified image
-    name. After, the command 'kubectl replace --dry-run=server' should update the
-    Pod with the new image name and server-side dry-run enabled. The image name must
-    not change.
+    name. After, the command 'kubectl patch pod -p {...} --dry-run=server' should
+    update the Pod with the new image name and server-side dry-run enabled. The image
+    name must not change.
   release: v1.19
   file: test/e2e/kubectl/kubectl.go
 - testname: Kubectl, version
diff --git a/test/e2e/kubectl/kubectl.go b/test/e2e/kubectl/kubectl.go
index 8892d6854f3..780d07cbcc9 100644
--- a/test/e2e/kubectl/kubectl.go
+++ b/test/e2e/kubectl/kubectl.go
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ metadata:
 		/*
 			Release: v1.19
 			Testname: Kubectl, server-side dry-run Pod
-			Description: The command 'kubectl run' must create a pod with the specified image name. After, the command 'kubectl replace --dry-run=server' should update the Pod with the new image name and server-side dry-run enabled. The image name must not change.
+			Description: The command 'kubectl run' must create a pod with the specified image name. After, the command 'kubectl patch pod -p {...} --dry-run=server' should update the Pod with the new image name and server-side dry-run enabled. The image name must not change.
 		*/
 		framework.ConformanceIt("should check if kubectl can dry-run update Pods", func() {
 			ginkgo.By("running the image " + httpdImage)
@@ -918,12 +918,8 @@ metadata:
 			framework.RunKubectlOrDie(ns, "run", podName, "--image="+httpdImage, "--labels=run="+podName)
 
 			ginkgo.By("replace the image in the pod with server-side dry-run")
-			podJSON := framework.RunKubectlOrDie(ns, "get", "pod", podName, "-o", "json")
-			podJSON = strings.Replace(podJSON, httpdImage, busyboxImage, 1)
-			if !strings.Contains(podJSON, busyboxImage) {
-				framework.Failf("Failed replacing image from %s to %s in:\n%s\n", httpdImage, busyboxImage, podJSON)
-			}
-			framework.RunKubectlOrDieInput(ns, podJSON, "replace", "-f", "-", "--dry-run=server")
+			specImage := fmt.Sprintf(`{"spec":{"containers":[{"name": "%s","image": "%s"}]}}`, podName, busyboxImage)
+			framework.RunKubectlOrDie(ns, "patch", "pod", podName, "-p", specImage, "--dry-run=server")
 
 			ginkgo.By("verifying the pod " + podName + " has the right image " + httpdImage)
 			pod, err := c.CoreV1().Pods(ns).Get(context.TODO(), podName, metav1.GetOptions{})