diff --git a/hack/local-up-cluster.sh b/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
index 7fa308657bc..ec9342e94ed 100755
--- a/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
+++ b/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
@@ -221,7 +221,6 @@ LOG_DIR=${LOG_DIR:-"/tmp"}
 CONTAINER_RUNTIME=${CONTAINER_RUNTIME:-"docker"}
 CONTAINER_RUNTIME_ENDPOINT=${CONTAINER_RUNTIME_ENDPOINT:-""}
 IMAGE_SERVICE_ENDPOINT=${IMAGE_SERVICE_ENDPOINT:-""}
-ENABLE_CRI=${ENABLE_CRI:-"true"}
 RKT_PATH=${RKT_PATH:-""}
 RKT_STAGE1_IMAGE=${RKT_STAGE1_IMAGE:-""}
 CHAOS_CHANCE=${CHAOS_CHANCE:-0.0}