diff --git a/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/kubeadm/util.go b/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/kubeadm/util.go
index 8b457bbc2e..2eb59d74e4 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/kubeadm/util.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/kubeadm/util.go
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ func unmarkMaster() error {
 func elevateKubeSystemPrivileges() error {
 	k8s := service.K8s
 	client, err := k8s.GetClientset()
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "getting clientset")
+	}
 	clusterRoleBinding := &rbacv1beta1.ClusterRoleBinding{
 		ObjectMeta: v1.ObjectMeta{
 			Name: rbacName,