diff --git a/hack/make-rules/test-cmd-util.sh b/hack/make-rules/test-cmd-util.sh
index ef0a924cbac..eec1023483e 100644
--- a/hack/make-rules/test-cmd-util.sh
+++ b/hack/make-rules/test-cmd-util.sh
@@ -1160,6 +1160,19 @@ run_kubectl_get_tests() {
   output_message=$(! kubectl get pod valid-pod --allow-missing-template-keys=false -o go-template='{{.missing}}' "${kube_flags[@]}")
   kube::test::if_has_string "${output_message}" 'map has no entry for key "missing"'
 
+  ### Test kubectl get watch
+  output_message=$(kubectl get pods -w --request-timeout=1 "${kube_flags[@]}")
+  kube::test::if_has_string "${output_message}" 'STATUS'    # headers
+  kube::test::if_has_string "${output_message}" 'valid-pod' # pod details
+  output_message=$(kubectl get pods/valid-pod -o name -w --request-timeout=1 "${kube_flags[@]}")
+  kube::test::if_has_not_string "${output_message}" 'STATUS' # no headers
+  kube::test::if_has_string     "${output_message}" 'pods/valid-pod' # resource name
+  output_message=$(kubectl get pods/valid-pod -o yaml -w --request-timeout=1 "${kube_flags[@]}")
+  kube::test::if_has_not_string "${output_message}" 'STATUS'          # no headers
+  kube::test::if_has_string     "${output_message}" 'name: valid-pod' # yaml
+  output_message=$(! kubectl get pods/invalid-pod -w --request-timeout=1 "${kube_flags[@]}" 2>&1)
+  kube::test::if_has_string "${output_message}" '"invalid-pod" not found'
+
   # cleanup
   kubectl delete pods valid-pod "${kube_flags[@]}"
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/cmd_test.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/cmd_test.go
index 9901f2b752d..19514f2fa1f 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/cmd_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/cmd_test.go
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ func stringBody(body string) io.ReadCloser {
 
 func Example_printReplicationControllerWithNamespace() {
 	f, tf, _, ns := cmdtesting.NewAPIFactory()
-	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		WithNamespace: true,
 		ColumnLabels:  []string{},
 	})
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ func Example_printReplicationControllerWithNamespace() {
 
 func Example_printMultiContainersReplicationControllerWithWide() {
 	f, tf, _, ns := cmdtesting.NewAPIFactory()
-	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		Wide:         true,
 		ColumnLabels: []string{},
 	})
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ func Example_printMultiContainersReplicationControllerWithWide() {
 
 func Example_printReplicationController() {
 	f, tf, _, ns := cmdtesting.NewAPIFactory()
-	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		ColumnLabels: []string{},
 	})
 	printersinternal.AddHandlers(p)
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ func Example_printReplicationController() {
 
 func Example_printPodWithWideFormat() {
 	f, tf, _, ns := cmdtesting.NewAPIFactory()
-	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		Wide:         true,
 		ColumnLabels: []string{},
 	})
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ func Example_printPodWithWideFormat() {
 
 func Example_printPodWithShowLabels() {
 	f, tf, _, ns := cmdtesting.NewAPIFactory()
-	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		ShowLabels:   true,
 		ColumnLabels: []string{},
 	})
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ func newAllPhasePodList() *api.PodList {
 
 func Example_printPodHideTerminated() {
 	f, tf, _, ns := cmdtesting.NewAPIFactory()
-	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		ColumnLabels: []string{},
 	})
 	printersinternal.AddHandlers(p)
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ func Example_printPodHideTerminated() {
 
 func Example_printPodShowAll() {
 	f, tf, _, ns := cmdtesting.NewAPIFactory()
-	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		ShowAll:      true,
 		ColumnLabels: []string{},
 	})
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ func Example_printPodShowAll() {
 
 func Example_printServiceWithNamespacesAndLabels() {
 	f, tf, _, ns := cmdtesting.NewAPIFactory()
-	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		WithNamespace: true,
 		ColumnLabels:  []string{"l1"},
 	})
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/get.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/get.go
index bde9402a396..c8afaf1ab0a 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/get.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/get.go
@@ -251,8 +251,16 @@ func RunGet(f cmdutil.Factory, out, errOut io.Writer, cmd *cobra.Command, args [
 		// print the current object
 		filteredResourceCount := 0
 		if !isWatchOnly {
-			if err := printer.PrintObj(obj, out); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to output the provided object: %v", err)
+			var objsToPrint []runtime.Object
+			if isList {
+				objsToPrint, _ = meta.ExtractList(obj)
+			} else {
+				objsToPrint = append(objsToPrint, obj)
+			}
+			for _, objToPrint := range objsToPrint {
+				if err := printer.PrintObj(objToPrint, out); err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("unable to output the provided object: %v", err)
+				}
 			}
 			filteredResourceCount++
 			cmdutil.PrintFilterCount(filteredResourceCount, mapping.Resource, filterOpts)
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/get_test.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/get_test.go
index 3b15124ae83..7cc4fdaeef8 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/get_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/get_test.go
@@ -848,7 +848,7 @@ func TestWatchSelector(t *testing.T) {
 	cmd.Flags().Set("selector", "a=b")
 	cmd.Run(cmd, []string{"pods"})
 
-	expected := []runtime.Object{podList, events[2].Object, events[3].Object}
+	expected := []runtime.Object{&pods[0], &pods[1], events[2].Object, events[3].Object}
 	verifyObjects(t, expected, tf.Printer.(*testPrinter).Objects)
 
 	if len(buf.String()) == 0 {
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/util/factory_client_access.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/util/factory_client_access.go
index 5d8cf3c461f..6338868927c 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/util/factory_client_access.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/util/factory_client_access.go
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ func (f *ring0Factory) SuggestedPodTemplateResources() []schema.GroupResource {
 }
 
 func (f *ring0Factory) Printer(mapping *meta.RESTMapping, options printers.PrintOptions) (printers.ResourcePrinter, error) {
-	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(options)
+	p := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(f.JSONEncoder(), f.Decoder(true), options)
 	printersinternal.AddHandlers(p)
 	return p, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/printers/humanreadable.go b/pkg/printers/humanreadable.go
index 12f579aa703..69aa34fa051 100644
--- a/pkg/printers/humanreadable.go
+++ b/pkg/printers/humanreadable.go
@@ -50,13 +50,18 @@ type HumanReadablePrinter struct {
 	options      PrintOptions
 	lastType     reflect.Type
 	hiddenObjNum int
+	encoder      runtime.Encoder
+	decoder      runtime.Decoder
 }
 
 // NewHumanReadablePrinter creates a HumanReadablePrinter.
-func NewHumanReadablePrinter(options PrintOptions) *HumanReadablePrinter {
+// If encoder and decoder are provided, an attempt to convert unstructured types to internal types is made.
+func NewHumanReadablePrinter(encoder runtime.Encoder, decoder runtime.Decoder, options PrintOptions) *HumanReadablePrinter {
 	printer := &HumanReadablePrinter{
 		handlerMap: make(map[reflect.Type]*handlerEntry),
 		options:    options,
+		encoder:    encoder,
+		decoder:    decoder,
 	}
 	return printer
 }
@@ -167,7 +172,9 @@ func (h *HumanReadablePrinter) PrintObj(obj runtime.Object, output io.Writer) er
 
 	// check if the object is unstructured.  If so, let's attempt to convert it to a type we can understand before
 	// trying to print, since the printers are keyed by type.  This is extremely expensive.
-	//obj, _ = DecodeUnknownObject(obj)
+	if h.encoder != nil && h.decoder != nil {
+		obj, _ = decodeUnknownObject(obj, h.encoder, h.decoder)
+	}
 
 	t := reflect.TypeOf(obj)
 	if handler := h.handlerMap[t]; handler != nil {
@@ -327,3 +334,18 @@ func appendAllLabels(showLabels bool, itemLabels map[string]string) string {
 
 	return buffer.String()
 }
+
+// check if the object is unstructured. If so, attempt to convert it to a type we can understand.
+func decodeUnknownObject(obj runtime.Object, encoder runtime.Encoder, decoder runtime.Decoder) (runtime.Object, error) {
+	var err error
+	switch obj.(type) {
+	case runtime.Unstructured, *runtime.Unknown:
+		if objBytes, err := runtime.Encode(encoder, obj); err == nil {
+			if decodedObj, err := runtime.Decode(decoder, objBytes); err == nil {
+				obj = decodedObj
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return obj, err
+}
diff --git a/pkg/printers/internalversion/printers_test.go b/pkg/printers/internalversion/printers_test.go
index 55e5a98158f..28a3ca2678d 100644
--- a/pkg/printers/internalversion/printers_test.go
+++ b/pkg/printers/internalversion/printers_test.go
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ func ErrorPrintHandler(obj *TestPrintType, w io.Writer, options printers.PrintOp
 
 func TestCustomTypePrinting(t *testing.T) {
 	columns := []string{"Data"}
-	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{})
+	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{})
 	printer.Handler(columns, nil, PrintCustomType)
 
 	obj := TestPrintType{"test object"}
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ func TestCustomTypePrinting(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestCustomTypePrintingWithKind(t *testing.T) {
 	columns := []string{"Data"}
-	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{})
+	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{})
 	printer.Handler(columns, nil, PrintCustomType)
 	printer.EnsurePrintWithKind("test")
 
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ func TestCustomTypePrintingWithKind(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestPrintHandlerError(t *testing.T) {
 	columns := []string{"Data"}
-	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{})
+	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{})
 	printer.Handler(columns, nil, ErrorPrintHandler)
 	obj := TestPrintType{"test object"}
 	buffer := &bytes.Buffer{}
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ func TestPrintHandlerError(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestUnknownTypePrinting(t *testing.T) {
-	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{})
+	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{})
 	buffer := &bytes.Buffer{}
 	err := printer.PrintObj(&TestUnknownType{}, buffer)
 	if err == nil {
@@ -522,10 +522,10 @@ func TestPrinters(t *testing.T) {
 	jsonpathPrinter = printers.NewVersionedPrinter(jsonpathPrinter, api.Scheme, v1.SchemeGroupVersion)
 
 	allPrinters := map[string]printers.ResourcePrinter{
-		"humanReadable": printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+		"humanReadable": printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 			NoHeaders: true,
 		}),
-		"humanReadableHeaders": printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{}),
+		"humanReadableHeaders": printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{}),
 		"json":                 &printers.JSONPrinter{},
 		"yaml":                 &printers.YAMLPrinter{},
 		"template":             templatePrinter,
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ func TestPrinters(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestPrintEventsResultSorted(t *testing.T) {
 	// Arrange
-	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{})
+	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{})
 	AddHandlers(printer)
 
 	obj := api.EventList{
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ func TestPrintEventsResultSorted(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPrintNodeStatus(t *testing.T) {
-	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{})
+	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{})
 	AddHandlers(printer)
 	table := []struct {
 		node   api.Node
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ func TestPrintNodeStatus(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPrintNodeOSImage(t *testing.T) {
-	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		ColumnLabels: []string{},
 		Wide:         true,
 	})
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ func TestPrintNodeOSImage(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPrintNodeKernelVersion(t *testing.T) {
-	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		ColumnLabels: []string{},
 		Wide:         true,
 	})
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ func TestPrintNodeKernelVersion(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPrintNodeExternalIP(t *testing.T) {
-	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+	printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 		Wide: true,
 	})
 	AddHandlers(printer)
@@ -1219,7 +1219,7 @@ func TestPrintHumanReadableWithNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, test := range table {
 		if test.isNamespaced {
 			// Expect output to include namespace when requested.
-			printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+			printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 				WithNamespace: true,
 			})
 			AddHandlers(printer)
@@ -1234,7 +1234,7 @@ func TestPrintHumanReadableWithNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		} else {
 			// Expect error when trying to get all namespaces for un-namespaced object.
-			printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(printers.PrintOptions{
+			printer := printers.NewHumanReadablePrinter(nil, nil, printers.PrintOptions{
 				WithNamespace: true,
 			})
 			buffer := &bytes.Buffer{}