diff --git a/pkg/minikube/console/style.go b/pkg/minikube/console/style.go
index e8ceac1db7b6..ed95e98aae06 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/console/style.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/console/style.go
@@ -153,6 +153,9 @@ func applyStyle(style StyleEnum, useColor bool, format string) string {
 }
 
 func applyTemplateFormatting(style StyleEnum, useColor bool, format string, a ...Arg) string {
+	if a == nil {
+		a = []Arg{Arg{}}
+	}
 	format = applyStyle(style, useColor, format)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
@@ -161,9 +164,6 @@ func applyTemplateFormatting(style StyleEnum, useColor bool, format string, a ..
 		glog.Infof("Initializing template failed. Returning raw string.")
 		return format
 	}
-	if len(a) == 0 {
-		a[0] = Arg{}
-	}
 	err = t.Execute(&buf, a[0])
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.Infof("Executing template failed. Returning raw string.")