diff --git a/class/defaults.yml b/class/defaults.yml
index 0b173da..c6006ca 100644
--- a/class/defaults.yml
+++ b/class/defaults.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ parameters:
       kubectl:
         registry: docker.io
         repository: rancher/kubectl
-        tag: v1.34.1
+        tag: v1.34.5
 
     replicaCount: 1
 
diff --git a/tests/golden/defaults/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml b/tests/golden/defaults/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml
index be666b6..17f4f47 100644
--- a/tests/golden/defaults/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml
+++ b/tests/golden/defaults/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ data:
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_ACTIVE_DEADLINE_SECONDS: '900'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_BACKOFF_LIMIT: '99'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_IMAGE_PULL_POLICY: Always
-  SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_KUBECTL_IMAGE: docker.io/rancher/kubectl:v1.34.1
+  SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_KUBECTL_IMAGE: docker.io/rancher/kubectl:v1.34.5
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_PRIVILEGED: 'true'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_TTL_SECONDS_AFTER_FINISH: '900'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_PLAN_POLLING_INTERVAL: 15m
diff --git a/tests/golden/node-groups/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml b/tests/golden/node-groups/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml
index be666b6..17f4f47 100644
--- a/tests/golden/node-groups/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml
+++ b/tests/golden/node-groups/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ data:
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_ACTIVE_DEADLINE_SECONDS: '900'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_BACKOFF_LIMIT: '99'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_IMAGE_PULL_POLICY: Always
-  SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_KUBECTL_IMAGE: docker.io/rancher/kubectl:v1.34.1
+  SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_KUBECTL_IMAGE: docker.io/rancher/kubectl:v1.34.5
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_PRIVILEGED: 'true'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_TTL_SECONDS_AFTER_FINISH: '900'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_PLAN_POLLING_INTERVAL: 15m
diff --git a/tests/golden/release-upgrade/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml b/tests/golden/release-upgrade/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml
index be666b6..17f4f47 100644
--- a/tests/golden/release-upgrade/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml
+++ b/tests/golden/release-upgrade/upgrade-controller/upgrade-controller/10_configmap.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ data:
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_ACTIVE_DEADLINE_SECONDS: '900'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_BACKOFF_LIMIT: '99'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_IMAGE_PULL_POLICY: Always
-  SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_KUBECTL_IMAGE: docker.io/rancher/kubectl:v1.34.1
+  SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_KUBECTL_IMAGE: docker.io/rancher/kubectl:v1.34.5
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_PRIVILEGED: 'true'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_TTL_SECONDS_AFTER_FINISH: '900'
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_PLAN_POLLING_INTERVAL: 15m