diff --git a/cluster/gce/util.sh b/cluster/gce/util.sh
index 192627824ce..25c7d5f8a41 100755
--- a/cluster/gce/util.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/util.sh
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ function verify-prereqs {
   if [[ "${KUBE_PROMPT_FOR_UPDATE}" != "y" ]]; then
     gcloud_prompt="-q"
   fi
+  local sudo_prefix=""
   if [ ! -w $(dirname `which gcloud`) ]; then
     sudo_prefix="sudo"
   fi
diff --git a/cluster/gke/util.sh b/cluster/gke/util.sh
index 9895701f618..754e5fe27a2 100755
--- a/cluster/gke/util.sh
+++ b/cluster/gke/util.sh
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ function verify-prereqs() {
   if [[ "${KUBE_PROMPT_FOR_UPDATE}" != "y" ]]; then
     gcloud_prompt="-q"
   fi
+  local sudo_prefix=""
   if [ ! -w $(dirname `which gcloud`) ]; then
     sudo_prefix="sudo"
   fi