diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
index aa713c61ff..2d1f12f2f1 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
@@ -1541,11 +1541,15 @@ func isBaseImageApplicable(drv string) bool {
 
 func getKubernetesVersion(old *config.ClusterConfig) string {
 	if viper.GetBool(noKubernetes) {
+		// Exit if --kubernetes-version is specified.
+		if viper.GetString(kubernetesVersion) != "" {
+			exit.Message(reason.Usage, "cannot specify --kubernetes-version with --no-kubernetes")
+		}
+
 		klog.Infof("No Kubernetes flag is set, setting Kubernetes version to %s", constants.NoKubernetesVersion)
 		if old != nil {
 			old.KubernetesConfig.KubernetesVersion = constants.NoKubernetesVersion
 		}
-		return viper.GetString(constants.NoKubernetesVersion)
 	}
 
 	paramVersion := viper.GetString(kubernetesVersion)