diff --git a/pkg/cmd/taint/taint.go b/pkg/cmd/taint/taint.go
index ec59d14c..2a74323c 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/taint/taint.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/taint/taint.go
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ func (o TaintOptions) Validate() error {
 				continue
 			}
 			if len(taintRemove.Effect) == 0 || taintAdd.Effect == taintRemove.Effect {
-				conflictTaint := fmt.Sprintf("{\"%s\":\"%s\"}", taintRemove.Key, taintRemove.Effect)
+				conflictTaint := fmt.Sprintf("%s=%s", taintRemove.Key, taintRemove.Effect)
 				conflictTaints = append(conflictTaints, conflictTaint)
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/taint/taint_test.go b/pkg/cmd/taint/taint_test.go
index a154c97d..02fd13be 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/taint/taint_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/taint/taint_test.go
@@ -216,6 +216,12 @@ func TestTaint(t *testing.T) {
 			expectFatal: true,
 			expectTaint: false,
 		},
+		{
+			description: "add and remove taint with same key and effect should be rejected",
+			args:        []string{"node", "node-name", "foo=:NoExcute", "foo=:NoExcute-"},
+			expectFatal: true,
+			expectTaint: false,
+		},
 		{
 			description: "can't update existing taint on the node, since 'overwrite' flag is not set",
 			oldTaints: []corev1.Taint{{