diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
index 73b919a4be..98a2142c79 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
@@ -1165,9 +1165,10 @@ func getKubernetesVersion(old *cfg.MachineConfig) (string, bool) {
 	isUpgrade := false
 
 	if paramVersion == "" { // if the user did not specify any version then ...
-		if old != nil { // .. use the old version from config
+		if old != nil { // .. use the old version from config (if any)
 			paramVersion = old.KubernetesConfig.KubernetesVersion
-		} else { // .. otherwise use the default version
+		}
+		if paramVersion == "" { // .. otherwise use the default version
 			paramVersion = constants.DefaultKubernetesVersion
 		}
 	}