diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/expose/expose.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/expose/expose.go
index 9721dc3cfe6..1bec0e91278 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/expose/expose.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/expose/expose.go
@@ -532,12 +532,7 @@ func (o *ExposeServiceOptions) createService() (*corev1.Service, error) {
 	}
 	targetPortString := o.TargetPort
 	if len(targetPortString) > 0 {
-		var targetPort intstr.IntOrString
-		if portNum, err := strconv.Atoi(targetPortString); err != nil {
-			targetPort = intstr.FromString(targetPortString)
-		} else {
-			targetPort = intstr.FromInt(portNum)
-		}
+		targetPort := intstr.Parse(targetPortString)
 		// Use the same target-port for every port
 		for i := range service.Spec.Ports {
 			service.Spec.Ports[i].TargetPort = targetPort