diff --git a/pkg/minikube/cni/calico.go b/pkg/minikube/cni/calico.go
index 617f53b6a3..ebc8ccb658 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/cni/calico.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/cni/calico.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func (c Calico) String() string {
 
 // manifest returns a Kubernetes manifest for a CNI
 func (c Calico) manifest() (assets.CopyableFile, error) {
-	k8sVersion, err := semver.Parse(c.cc.KubernetesConfig.KubernetesVersion)
+	k8sVersion, err := semver.ParseTolerant(c.cc.KubernetesConfig.KubernetesVersion)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse Kubernetes version: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/cni/flannel.go b/pkg/minikube/cni/flannel.go
index 33bcf5379b..dc842efed1 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/cni/flannel.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/cni/flannel.go
@@ -680,7 +680,7 @@ func (c Flannel) Apply(r Runner) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	k8sVersion, err := semver.Parse(c.cc.KubernetesConfig.KubernetesVersion)
+	k8sVersion, err := semver.ParseTolerant(c.cc.KubernetesConfig.KubernetesVersion)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to parse Kubernetes version: %v", err)
 	}