diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
index 21214cc48c..1ea218f02c 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
@@ -287,17 +287,17 @@ func provisionWithDriver(cmd *cobra.Command, ds registry.DriverState, existing *
 		}
 	}
 
+	mRunner, preExists, mAPI, host, err := node.Provision(&cc, &n, true, viper.GetBool(deleteOnFailure))
+	if err != nil {
+		return node.Starter{}, err
+	}
+
 	if viper.GetBool(nativeSSH) {
 		ssh.SetDefaultClient(ssh.Native)
 	} else {
 		ssh.SetDefaultClient(ssh.External)
 	}
 
-	mRunner, preExists, mAPI, host, err := node.Provision(&cc, &n, true, viper.GetBool(deleteOnFailure))
-	if err != nil {
-		return node.Starter{}, err
-	}
-
 	return node.Starter{
 		Runner:         mRunner,
 		PreExists:      preExists,