diff --git a/bootstrap/templates/addons/system-upgrade-controller/app/helmrelease.yaml.j2 b/bootstrap/templates/addons/system-upgrade-controller/app/helmrelease.yaml.j2
index bafacbf4..2adb2bbc 100644
--- a/bootstrap/templates/addons/system-upgrade-controller/app/helmrelease.yaml.j2
+++ b/bootstrap/templates/addons/system-upgrade-controller/app/helmrelease.yaml.j2
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ spec:
               SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_ACTIVE_DEADLINE_SECONDS: 900
               SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_BACKOFF_LIMIT: 99
               SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_IMAGE_PULL_POLICY: IfNotPresent
-              SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_KUBECTL_IMAGE: docker.io/rancher/kubectl:v1.29.0
+              SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_KUBECTL_IMAGE: docker.io/rancher/kubectl:v1.31.1
               SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_PRIVILEGED: true
               SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_TTL_SECONDS_AFTER_FINISH: 900
               SYSTEM_UPGRADE_PLAN_POLLING_INTERVAL: 15m