diff --git a/nodeup/pkg/model/kubectl.go b/nodeup/pkg/model/kubectl.go
index b2ad252771..0c20692dcc 100644
--- a/nodeup/pkg/model/kubectl.go
+++ b/nodeup/pkg/model/kubectl.go
@@ -76,6 +76,14 @@ func (b *KubectlBuilder) Build(c *fi.ModelBuilderContext) error {
 
 		switch b.Distribution {
 		case distros.DistributionJessie:
+			c.AddTask(&nodetasks.File{
+				Path:  "/home/admin/.kube/",
+				Type:  nodetasks.FileType_Directory,
+				Mode:  s("0400"),
+				Owner: s("admin"),
+				Group: s("admin"),
+			})
+
 			c.AddTask(&nodetasks.File{
 				Path:     "/home/admin/.kube/config",
 				Contents: fi.NewStringResource(kubeconfig),