diff --git a/cluster/aws/config-default.sh b/cluster/aws/config-default.sh
index fbfb242a523..3b24158a4c8 100644
--- a/cluster/aws/config-default.sh
+++ b/cluster/aws/config-default.sh
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION="${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION}"
 KUBE_NODE_IMAGE="${KUBE_NODE_IMAGE:-}"
 COREOS_CHANNEL="${COREOS_CHANNEL:-alpha}"
 CONTAINER_RUNTIME="${KUBE_CONTAINER_RUNTIME:-docker}"
-RKT_VERSION="${KUBE_RKT_VERSION:-0.5.5}"
+RKT_VERSION="${KUBE_RKT_VERSION:-1.14.0}"
 
 # OpenContrail networking plugin specific settings
 NETWORK_PROVIDER="${NETWORK_PROVIDER:-none}" # opencontrail
diff --git a/cluster/aws/config-test.sh b/cluster/aws/config-test.sh
index 107264e0a21..c44163e58ec 100755
--- a/cluster/aws/config-test.sh
+++ b/cluster/aws/config-test.sh
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION="${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION}"
 KUBE_NODE_IMAGE="${KUBE_NODE_IMAGE:-}"
 COREOS_CHANNEL="${COREOS_CHANNEL:-alpha}"
 CONTAINER_RUNTIME="${KUBE_CONTAINER_RUNTIME:-docker}"
-RKT_VERSION="${KUBE_RKT_VERSION:-0.5.5}"
+RKT_VERSION="${KUBE_RKT_VERSION:-1.14.0}"
 
 # Optional: if set to true, kube-up will configure the cluster to run e2e tests.
 E2E_STORAGE_TEST_ENVIRONMENT=${KUBE_E2E_STORAGE_TEST_ENVIRONMENT:-false}
diff --git a/cluster/gce/config-default.sh b/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
index 4ec0c0178fe..a560faf0b9b 100755
--- a/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ MASTER_IMAGE_PROJECT=${KUBE_GCE_MASTER_PROJECT:-google-containers}
 NODE_IMAGE=${KUBE_GCE_NODE_IMAGE:-${CVM_VERSION}}
 NODE_IMAGE_PROJECT=${KUBE_GCE_NODE_PROJECT:-google-containers}
 CONTAINER_RUNTIME=${KUBE_CONTAINER_RUNTIME:-docker}
-RKT_VERSION=${KUBE_RKT_VERSION:-1.9.1}
+RKT_VERSION=${KUBE_RKT_VERSION:-1.14.0}
 RKT_STAGE1_IMAGE=${KUBE_RKT_STAGE1_IMAGE:-coreos.com/rkt/stage1-coreos}
 
 NETWORK=${KUBE_GCE_NETWORK:-default}
diff --git a/cluster/gce/config-test.sh b/cluster/gce/config-test.sh
index aa9d1c23659..1ce96fefb33 100755
--- a/cluster/gce/config-test.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/config-test.sh
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ NODE_IMAGE=${KUBE_GCE_NODE_IMAGE:-${CVM_VERSION}}
 NODE_IMAGE_PROJECT=${KUBE_GCE_NODE_PROJECT:-google-containers}
 CONTAINER_RUNTIME=${KUBE_CONTAINER_RUNTIME:-docker}
 GCI_DOCKER_VERSION=${KUBE_GCI_DOCKER_VERSION:-}
-RKT_VERSION=${KUBE_RKT_VERSION:-1.9.1}
+RKT_VERSION=${KUBE_RKT_VERSION:-1.14.0}
 RKT_STAGE1_IMAGE=${KUBE_RKT_STAGE1_IMAGE:-coreos.com/rkt/stage1-coreos}
 
 NETWORK=${KUBE_GCE_NETWORK:-e2e}
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/rkt/rkt_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/rkt/rkt_test.go
index 60070125442..3dd7a773065 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/rkt/rkt_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/rkt/rkt_test.go
@@ -178,17 +178,15 @@ func TestCheckVersion(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	fs.version = "100"
 	tests := []struct {
-		minimumRktBinVersion     string
-		recommendedRktBinVersion string
-		minimumRktApiVersion     string
-		minimumSystemdVersion    string
-		err                      error
-		calledGetInfo            bool
-		calledSystemVersion      bool
+		minimumRktBinVersion  string
+		minimumRktApiVersion  string
+		minimumSystemdVersion string
+		err                   error
+		calledGetInfo         bool
+		calledSystemVersion   bool
 	}{
 		// Good versions.
 		{
-			"1.2.3",
 			"1.2.3",
 			"1.2.5",
 			"99",
@@ -198,7 +196,6 @@ func TestCheckVersion(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		// Good versions.
 		{
-			"1.2.3+git",
 			"1.2.3+git",
 			"1.2.6-alpha",
 			"100",
@@ -208,7 +205,6 @@ func TestCheckVersion(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		// Requires greater binary version.
 		{
-			"1.2.4",
 			"1.2.4",
 			"1.2.6-alpha",
 			"100",
@@ -218,7 +214,6 @@ func TestCheckVersion(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		// Requires greater API version.
 		{
-			"1.2.3",
 			"1.2.3",
 			"1.2.6",
 			"100",
@@ -228,7 +223,6 @@ func TestCheckVersion(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		// Requires greater API version.
 		{
-			"1.2.3",
 			"1.2.3",
 			"1.2.7",
 			"100",
@@ -238,7 +232,6 @@ func TestCheckVersion(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		// Requires greater systemd version.
 		{
-			"1.2.3",
 			"1.2.3",
 			"1.2.7",
 			"101",
@@ -250,7 +243,7 @@ func TestCheckVersion(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for i, tt := range tests {
 		testCaseHint := fmt.Sprintf("test case #%d", i)
-		err := r.checkVersion(tt.minimumRktBinVersion, tt.recommendedRktBinVersion, tt.minimumRktApiVersion, tt.minimumSystemdVersion)
+		err := r.checkVersion(tt.minimumRktBinVersion, tt.minimumRktApiVersion, tt.minimumSystemdVersion)
 		assert.Equal(t, tt.err, err, testCaseHint)
 
 		if tt.calledGetInfo {