diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/clusterdeployer/clusterclient/clusterclient.go b/cmd/clusterctl/clusterdeployer/clusterclient/clusterclient.go
index 3df93bc51dbe..f6b2009c108e 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/clusterdeployer/clusterclient/clusterclient.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/clusterdeployer/clusterclient/clusterclient.go
@@ -234,6 +234,15 @@ func NewFromDefaultSearchPath(kubeconfigFile string, overrides tcmd.ConfigOverri
 	if err := util.PollImmediate(retryAcquireClient, timeoutAcquireClient, func() (_ bool, err error) {
 		c, err = clientcmd.NewControllerRuntimeClient(kubeconfigFile, overrides)
 		if err != nil {
+			if strings.Contains(err.Error(), io.EOF.Error()) || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "refused") || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "no such host") {
+				// Connection was refused, probably because the API server is not ready yet.
+				klog.V(2).Infof("Waiting to acquire client... server not yet available: %v", err)
+				return false, nil
+			}
+			if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unable to recognize") {
+				klog.V(2).Infof("Waiting to acquire client... api not yet available: %v", err)
+				return false, nil
+			}
 			klog.V(2).Infof("Waiting to acquire client...")
 			return false, err
 		}