diff --git a/pkg/minikube/machine/ssh.go b/pkg/minikube/machine/ssh.go
index c547ed09d7..0f991e2f2c 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/machine/ssh.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/machine/ssh.go
@@ -42,14 +42,14 @@ func CreateSSHShell(api libmachine.API, cc config.ClusterConfig, n config.Node,
 		return errors.Errorf("%q is not running", machineName)
 	}
 
+	client, err := host.CreateSSHClient()
+
 	if native {
 		ssh.SetDefaultClient(ssh.Native)
 	} else {
 		ssh.SetDefaultClient(ssh.External)
 	}
 
-	client, err := host.CreateSSHClient()
-
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "Creating ssh client")
 	}