diff --git a/cmd/kubelet/app/server.go b/cmd/kubelet/app/server.go
index 18728d0bc79..e66a5870601 100644
--- a/cmd/kubelet/app/server.go
+++ b/cmd/kubelet/app/server.go
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ func getNodeName(cloud cloudprovider.Interface, hostname string) (types.NodeName
 // InitializeTLS checks for a configured TLSCertFile and TLSPrivateKeyFile: if unspecified a new self-signed
 // certificate and key file are generated. Returns a configured server.TLSOptions object.
 func InitializeTLS(kf *options.KubeletFlags, kc *kubeletconfiginternal.KubeletConfiguration) (*server.TLSOptions, error) {
-	if !utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.RotateKubeletServerCertificate) && kc.TLSCertFile == "" && kc.TLSPrivateKeyFile == "" {
+	if !kc.ServerTLSBootstrap && kc.TLSCertFile == "" && kc.TLSPrivateKeyFile == "" {
 		kc.TLSCertFile = path.Join(kf.CertDirectory, "kubelet.crt")
 		kc.TLSPrivateKeyFile = path.Join(kf.CertDirectory, "kubelet.key")