diff --git a/pkg/minikube/image/image.go b/pkg/minikube/image/image.go
index 0199d3d97d..5a6cc82c1e 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/image/image.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/image/image.go
@@ -79,19 +79,23 @@ func DigestByGoLib(imgName string) string {
 	return cf.Hex
 }
 
-// WriteImageToDaemon write img to the local docker daemon
-func WriteImageToDaemon(img string) error {
-	glog.Infof("Writing %s to local daemon", img)
-
+// ExistsImageInDaemon if img exist in local docker daemon
+func ExistsImageInDaemon(img string) bool {
 	// Check if image exists locally
 	cmd := exec.Command("docker", "images", "--format", "{{.Repository}}:{{.Tag}}@{{.Digest}}")
 	if output, err := cmd.Output(); err == nil {
 		if strings.Contains(string(output), img) {
 			glog.Infof("Found %s in local docker daemon, skipping pull", img)
-			return nil
+			return true
 		}
 	}
 	// Else, pull it
+	return false
+}
+
+// WriteImageToDaemon write img to the local docker daemon
+func WriteImageToDaemon(img string) error {
+	glog.Infof("Writing %s to local daemon", img)
 	ref, err := name.ParseReference(img)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "parsing reference")
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/node/cache.go b/pkg/minikube/node/cache.go
index 5af6b2e303..dd01433ca8 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/node/cache.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/node/cache.go
@@ -100,12 +100,14 @@ func doCacheBinaries(k8sVersion string) error {
 
 // BeginDownloadKicArtifacts downloads the kic image + preload tarball, returns true if preload is available
 func beginDownloadKicArtifacts(g *errgroup.Group) {
-	out.T(out.Pulling, "Pulling base image ...")
 	glog.Info("Beginning downloading kic artifacts")
-	g.Go(func() error {
-		glog.Infof("Downloading %s to local daemon", kic.BaseImage)
-		return image.WriteImageToDaemon(kic.BaseImage)
-	})
+	if !image.ExistsImageInDaemon(kic.BaseImage) {
+		out.T(out.Pulling, "Pulling base image ...")
+		g.Go(func() error {
+			glog.Infof("Downloading %s to local daemon", kic.BaseImage)
+			return image.WriteImageToDaemon(kic.BaseImage)
+		})
+	}
 }
 
 // WaitDownloadKicArtifacts blocks until the required artifacts for KIC are downloaded.