diff --git a/internal/helm/config.go b/internal/helm/config.go
index 9795cd2..a57c578 100644
--- a/internal/helm/config.go
+++ b/internal/helm/config.go
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	Prefix             string      ``                              // Prefix to use when looking up secret env vars
 
 	// Global helm config
-	Debug          bool     ``                                                // global helm flag (also applies to drone-helm itself)
-	KubeConfig     string   `split_words:"true" default:"/root/.kube/config"` // path to the kube config file
+	Debug          bool     `` // global helm flag (also applies to drone-helm itself)
 	Values         string   ``
 	StringValues   string   `split_words:"true"`
 	ValuesFiles    []string `split_words:"true"`
diff --git a/internal/helm/plan.go b/internal/helm/plan.go
index 1d4ced9..62083c9 100644
--- a/internal/helm/plan.go
+++ b/internal/helm/plan.go
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ import (
 	"os"
 )
 
-const kubeConfigTemplate = "/root/.kube/config.tpl"
+const (
+	kubeConfigTemplate = "/root/.kube/config.tpl"
+	kubeConfigFile     = "/root/.kube/config"
+)
 
 // A Step is one step in the plan.
 type Step interface {
@@ -27,7 +30,6 @@ func NewPlan(cfg Config) (*Plan, error) {
 		cfg: cfg,
 		runCfg: run.Config{
 			Debug:        cfg.Debug,
-			KubeConfig:   cfg.KubeConfig,
 			Values:       cfg.Values,
 			StringValues: cfg.StringValues,
 			ValuesFiles:  cfg.ValuesFiles,
@@ -141,6 +143,7 @@ func initKube(cfg Config) []Step {
 			ServiceAccount: cfg.ServiceAccount,
 			Token:          cfg.KubeToken,
 			TemplateFile:   kubeConfigTemplate,
+			ConfigFile:     kubeConfigFile,
 		},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/helm/plan_test.go b/internal/helm/plan_test.go
index e5a1a96..48ee4cc 100644
--- a/internal/helm/plan_test.go
+++ b/internal/helm/plan_test.go
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ func (suite *PlanTestSuite) TestNewPlan() {
 	cfg := Config{
 		Command:      "help",
 		Debug:        false,
-		KubeConfig:   "/branch/.sfere/profig",
 		Values:       "steadfastness,forthrightness",
 		StringValues: "tensile_strength,flexibility",
 		ValuesFiles:  []string{"/root/price_inventory.yml"},
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@ func (suite *PlanTestSuite) TestNewPlan() {
 
 	runCfg := run.Config{
 		Debug:        false,
-		KubeConfig:   "/branch/.sfere/profig",
 		Values:       "steadfastness,forthrightness",
 		StringValues: "tensile_strength,flexibility",
 		ValuesFiles:  []string{"/root/price_inventory.yml"},
@@ -142,6 +140,7 @@ func (suite *PlanTestSuite) TestDel() {
 		ServiceAccount: "greathelm",
 		Token:          "b2YgbXkgYWZmZWN0aW9u",
 		TemplateFile:   kubeConfigTemplate,
+		ConfigFile:     kubeConfigFile,
 	}
 
 	suite.Equal(expected, init)
@@ -176,6 +175,7 @@ func (suite *PlanTestSuite) TestInitKube() {
 		ServiceAccount: "helmet",
 		Token:          "cXVlZXIgY2hhcmFjdGVyCg==",
 		TemplateFile:   kubeConfigTemplate,
+		ConfigFile:     kubeConfigFile,
 	}
 	suite.Equal(expected, init)
 }
diff --git a/internal/run/config.go b/internal/run/config.go
index 09b9642..4f9b99a 100644
--- a/internal/run/config.go
+++ b/internal/run/config.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 // Config contains configuration applicable to all helm commands
 type Config struct {
 	Debug        bool
-	KubeConfig   string
 	Values       string
 	StringValues string
 	ValuesFiles  []string
diff --git a/internal/run/initkube.go b/internal/run/initkube.go
index 4af29af..c868890 100644
--- a/internal/run/initkube.go
+++ b/internal/run/initkube.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ type InitKube struct {
 	ServiceAccount string
 	Token          string
 	TemplateFile   string
+	ConfigFile     string
 
 	template   *template.Template
 	configFile io.WriteCloser
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ type kubeValues struct {
 // Execute generates a kubernetes config file from drone-helm3's template.
 func (i *InitKube) Execute(cfg Config) error {
 	if cfg.Debug {
-		fmt.Fprintf(cfg.Stderr, "writing kubeconfig file to %s\n", cfg.KubeConfig)
+		fmt.Fprintf(cfg.Stderr, "writing kubeconfig file to %s\n", i.ConfigFile)
 	}
 	defer i.configFile.Close()
 	return i.template.Execute(i.configFile, i.values)
@@ -76,16 +77,16 @@ func (i *InitKube) Prepare(cfg Config) error {
 	}
 
 	if cfg.Debug {
-		if _, err := os.Stat(cfg.KubeConfig); err != nil {
+		if _, err := os.Stat(i.ConfigFile); err != nil {
 			// non-nil err here isn't an actual error state; the kubeconfig just doesn't exist
 			fmt.Fprint(cfg.Stderr, "creating ")
 		} else {
 			fmt.Fprint(cfg.Stderr, "truncating ")
 		}
-		fmt.Fprintf(cfg.Stderr, "kubeconfig file at %s\n", cfg.KubeConfig)
+		fmt.Fprintf(cfg.Stderr, "kubeconfig file at %s\n", i.ConfigFile)
 	}
 
-	i.configFile, err = os.Create(cfg.KubeConfig)
+	i.configFile, err = os.Create(i.ConfigFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("could not open kubeconfig file for writing: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/run/initkube_test.go b/internal/run/initkube_test.go
index fb32b15..74f6225 100644
--- a/internal/run/initkube_test.go
+++ b/internal/run/initkube_test.go
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ namespace: {{ .Namespace }}
 		Certificate:  "CCNA",
 		Token:        "Aspire virtual currency",
 		TemplateFile: templateFile.Name(),
+		ConfigFile:   configFile.Name(),
 	}
 	cfg := Config{
-		Namespace:  "Cisco",
-		KubeConfig: configFile.Name(),
+		Namespace: "Cisco",
 	}
 	err = init.Prepare(cfg)
 	suite.Require().Nil(err)
@@ -95,11 +95,10 @@ func (suite *InitKubeTestSuite) TestPrepareCannotOpenDestinationFile() {
 		Certificate:  "CCNA",
 		Token:        "Aspire virtual currency",
 		TemplateFile: templateFile.Name(),
+		ConfigFile:   "/usr/foreign/exclude/kubeprofig",
 	}
 
-	cfg := Config{
-		KubeConfig: "/usr/foreign/exclude/kubeprofig",
-	}
+	cfg := Config{}
 	err = init.Prepare(cfg)
 	suite.Error(err)
 	suite.Regexp("could not open .* for writing: .* no such file or directory", err)
@@ -120,11 +119,10 @@ func (suite *InitKubeTestSuite) TestPrepareRequiredConfig() {
 		Certificate:  "CCNA",
 		Token:        "Aspire virtual currency",
 		TemplateFile: templateFile.Name(),
+		ConfigFile:   configFile.Name(),
 	}
 
-	cfg := Config{
-		KubeConfig: configFile.Name(),
-	}
+	cfg := Config{}
 
 	suite.NoError(init.Prepare(cfg)) // consistency check; we should be starting in a happy state
 
@@ -157,11 +155,10 @@ func (suite *InitKubeTestSuite) TestPrepareDefaultsServiceAccount() {
 		Certificate:  "CCNA",
 		Token:        "Aspire virtual currency",
 		TemplateFile: templateFile.Name(),
+		ConfigFile:   configFile.Name(),
 	}
 
-	cfg := Config{
-		KubeConfig: configFile.Name(),
-	}
+	cfg := Config{}
 
 	init.Prepare(cfg)
 	suite.Equal("helm", init.ServiceAccount)
diff --git a/internal/run/uninstall.go b/internal/run/uninstall.go
index 1b9d0b2..e24daca 100644
--- a/internal/run/uninstall.go
+++ b/internal/run/uninstall.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ func (u *Uninstall) Prepare(cfg Config) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("release is required")
 	}
 
-	args := []string{"--kubeconfig", cfg.KubeConfig}
+	args := make([]string, 0)
 
 	if cfg.Namespace != "" {
 		args = append(args, "--namespace", cfg.Namespace)
diff --git a/internal/run/uninstall_test.go b/internal/run/uninstall_test.go
index 9e826c9..fce7fee 100644
--- a/internal/run/uninstall_test.go
+++ b/internal/run/uninstall_test.go
@@ -58,11 +58,9 @@ func (suite *UninstallTestSuite) TestPrepareAndExecute() {
 		Run().
 		Times(1)
 
-	cfg := Config{
-		KubeConfig: "/root/.kube/config",
-	}
+	cfg := Config{}
 	suite.NoError(u.Prepare(cfg))
-	expected := []string{"--kubeconfig", "/root/.kube/config", "uninstall", "zayde_wølf_king"}
+	expected := []string{"uninstall", "zayde_wølf_king"}
 	suite.Equal(expected, actual)
 
 	u.Execute(cfg)
@@ -73,15 +71,13 @@ func (suite *UninstallTestSuite) TestPrepareDryRunFlag() {
 		Release: "firefox_ak_wildfire",
 		DryRun:  true,
 	}
-	cfg := Config{
-		KubeConfig: "/root/.kube/config",
-	}
+	cfg := Config{}
 
 	suite.mockCmd.EXPECT().Stdout(gomock.Any()).AnyTimes()
 	suite.mockCmd.EXPECT().Stderr(gomock.Any()).AnyTimes()
 
 	suite.NoError(u.Prepare(cfg))
-	expected := []string{"--kubeconfig", "/root/.kube/config", "uninstall", "--dry-run", "firefox_ak_wildfire"}
+	expected := []string{"uninstall", "--dry-run", "firefox_ak_wildfire"}
 	suite.Equal(expected, suite.actualArgs)
 }
 
@@ -90,16 +86,14 @@ func (suite *UninstallTestSuite) TestPrepareNamespaceFlag() {
 		Release: "carly_simon_run_away_with_me",
 	}
 	cfg := Config{
-		KubeConfig: "/root/.kube/config",
-		Namespace:  "emotion",
+		Namespace: "emotion",
 	}
 
 	suite.mockCmd.EXPECT().Stdout(gomock.Any()).AnyTimes()
 	suite.mockCmd.EXPECT().Stderr(gomock.Any()).AnyTimes()
 
 	suite.NoError(u.Prepare(cfg))
-	expected := []string{"--kubeconfig", "/root/.kube/config",
-		"--namespace", "emotion", "uninstall", "carly_simon_run_away_with_me"}
+	expected := []string{"--namespace", "emotion", "uninstall", "carly_simon_run_away_with_me"}
 	suite.Equal(expected, suite.actualArgs)
 }
 
@@ -109,9 +103,8 @@ func (suite *UninstallTestSuite) TestPrepareDebugFlag() {
 	}
 	stderr := strings.Builder{}
 	cfg := Config{
-		KubeConfig: "/root/.kube/config",
-		Debug:      true,
-		Stderr:     &stderr,
+		Debug:  true,
+		Stderr: &stderr,
 	}
 
 	command = func(path string, args ...string) cmd {
@@ -126,8 +119,8 @@ func (suite *UninstallTestSuite) TestPrepareDebugFlag() {
 	suite.mockCmd.EXPECT().Stderr(&stderr).AnyTimes()
 
 	suite.NoError(u.Prepare(cfg))
-	suite.Equal(fmt.Sprintf("Generated command: '%s --kubeconfig /root/.kube/config "+
-		"--debug uninstall just_a_band_huff_and_puff'\n", helmBin), stderr.String())
+	suite.Equal(fmt.Sprintf("Generated command: '%s --debug "+
+		"uninstall just_a_band_huff_and_puff'\n", helmBin), stderr.String())
 }
 
 func (suite *UninstallTestSuite) TestPrepareRequiresRelease() {
diff --git a/internal/run/upgrade.go b/internal/run/upgrade.go
index cff2c70..dd50527 100644
--- a/internal/run/upgrade.go
+++ b/internal/run/upgrade.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func (u *Upgrade) Prepare(cfg Config) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("release is required")
 	}
 
-	args := []string{"--kubeconfig", cfg.KubeConfig}
+	args := make([]string, 0)
 
 	if cfg.Namespace != "" {
 		args = append(args, "--namespace", cfg.Namespace)
diff --git a/internal/run/upgrade_test.go b/internal/run/upgrade_test.go
index 13b2080..aae1af4 100644
--- a/internal/run/upgrade_test.go
+++ b/internal/run/upgrade_test.go
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ func (suite *UpgradeTestSuite) TestPrepareAndExecute() {
 
 	command = func(path string, args ...string) cmd {
 		suite.Equal(helmBin, path)
-		suite.Equal([]string{"--kubeconfig", "/root/.kube/config", "upgrade", "--install",
-			"jonas_brothers_only_human", "at40"}, args)
+		suite.Equal([]string{"upgrade", "--install", "jonas_brothers_only_human", "at40"}, args)
 
 		return suite.mockCmd
 	}
@@ -55,9 +54,7 @@ func (suite *UpgradeTestSuite) TestPrepareAndExecute() {
 		Run().
 		Times(1)
 
-	cfg := Config{
-		KubeConfig: "/root/.kube/config",
-	}
+	cfg := Config{}
 	err := u.Prepare(cfg)
 	suite.Require().Nil(err)
 	u.Execute(cfg)
@@ -73,8 +70,7 @@ func (suite *UpgradeTestSuite) TestPrepareNamespaceFlag() {
 
 	command = func(path string, args ...string) cmd {
 		suite.Equal(helmBin, path)
-		suite.Equal([]string{"--kubeconfig", "/root/.kube/config", "--namespace", "melt", "upgrade",
-			"--install", "shaed_trampoline", "at40"}, args)
+		suite.Equal([]string{"--namespace", "melt", "upgrade", "--install", "shaed_trampoline", "at40"}, args)
 
 		return suite.mockCmd
 	}
@@ -83,8 +79,7 @@ func (suite *UpgradeTestSuite) TestPrepareNamespaceFlag() {
 	suite.mockCmd.EXPECT().Stderr(gomock.Any())
 
 	cfg := Config{
-		Namespace:  "melt",
-		KubeConfig: "/root/.kube/config",
+		Namespace: "melt",
 	}
 	err := u.Prepare(cfg)
 	suite.Require().Nil(err)
@@ -105,7 +100,6 @@ func (suite *UpgradeTestSuite) TestPrepareWithUpgradeFlags() {
 	}
 
 	cfg := Config{
-		KubeConfig:   "/root/.kube/config",
 		Values:       "age=35",
 		StringValues: "height=5ft10in",
 		ValuesFiles:  []string{"/usr/local/stats", "/usr/local/grades"},
@@ -113,7 +107,7 @@ func (suite *UpgradeTestSuite) TestPrepareWithUpgradeFlags() {
 
 	command = func(path string, args ...string) cmd {
 		suite.Equal(helmBin, path)
-		suite.Equal([]string{"--kubeconfig", "/root/.kube/config", "upgrade", "--install",
+		suite.Equal([]string{"upgrade", "--install",
 			"--version", "radio_edit",
 			"--dry-run",
 			"--wait",
@@ -165,10 +159,9 @@ func (suite *UpgradeTestSuite) TestPrepareDebugFlag() {
 	stdout := strings.Builder{}
 	stderr := strings.Builder{}
 	cfg := Config{
-		Debug:      true,
-		KubeConfig: "/root/.kube/config",
-		Stdout:     &stdout,
-		Stderr:     &stderr,
+		Debug:  true,
+		Stdout: &stdout,
+		Stderr: &stderr,
 	}
 
 	command = func(path string, args ...string) cmd {
@@ -186,7 +179,7 @@ func (suite *UpgradeTestSuite) TestPrepareDebugFlag() {
 
 	u.Prepare(cfg)
 
-	want := fmt.Sprintf("Generated command: '%s --kubeconfig /root/.kube/config --debug upgrade "+
+	want := fmt.Sprintf("Generated command: '%s --debug upgrade "+
 		"--install lewis_capaldi_someone_you_loved at40'\n", helmBin)
 	suite.Equal(want, stderr.String())
 	suite.Equal("", stdout.String())