diff --git a/overlay/share/rancher/k3s/server/manifests/system-upgrade-controller.yaml b/overlay/share/rancher/k3s/server/manifests/system-upgrade-controller.yaml
index a36ca1bf..91a01313 100644
--- a/overlay/share/rancher/k3s/server/manifests/system-upgrade-controller.yaml
+++ b/overlay/share/rancher/k3s/server/manifests/system-upgrade-controller.yaml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ data:
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_ACTIVE_DEADLINE_SECONDS: "900"
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_BACKOFF_LIMIT: "2"
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_IMAGE_PULL_POLICY: "IfNotPresent"
-  SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_KUBECTL_IMAGE: "rancher/kubectl:v1.18.6"
+  SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_KUBECTL_IMAGE: "rancher/kubectl:v1.21.5"
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_PRIVILEGED: "true"
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_JOB_TTL_SECONDS_AFTER_FINISH: "900"
   SYSTEM_UPGRADE_PLAN_POLLING_INTERVAL: "15m"
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ spec:
           effect: "NoSchedule"
       containers:
         - name: system-upgrade-controller
-          image: rancher/system-upgrade-controller:v0.7.5
+          image: rancher/system-upgrade-controller:v0.7.7-rc.1
           imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           envFrom:
             - configMapRef: