diff --git a/docs/book/src/component-config-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/component-config-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
index a2882db925..6060390879 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/component-config-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/component-config-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -110,20 +110,20 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: install
 install: manifests kustomize ## Install CRDs into the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: uninstall
 uninstall: manifests kustomize ## Uninstall CRDs from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 .PHONY: deploy
 deploy: manifests kustomize ## Deploy controller to the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=${IMG}
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: undeploy
 undeploy: ## Undeploy controller from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 ##@ Build Dependencies
 
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ $(LOCALBIN):
 	mkdir -p $(LOCALBIN)
 
 ## Tool Binaries
+KUBECTL ?= kubectl
 KUSTOMIZE ?= $(LOCALBIN)/kustomize
 CONTROLLER_GEN ?= $(LOCALBIN)/controller-gen
 ENVTEST ?= $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest
diff --git a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
index a2882db925..6060390879 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -110,20 +110,20 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: install
 install: manifests kustomize ## Install CRDs into the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: uninstall
 uninstall: manifests kustomize ## Uninstall CRDs from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 .PHONY: deploy
 deploy: manifests kustomize ## Deploy controller to the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=${IMG}
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: undeploy
 undeploy: ## Undeploy controller from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 ##@ Build Dependencies
 
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ $(LOCALBIN):
 	mkdir -p $(LOCALBIN)
 
 ## Tool Binaries
+KUBECTL ?= kubectl
 KUSTOMIZE ?= $(LOCALBIN)/kustomize
 CONTROLLER_GEN ?= $(LOCALBIN)/controller-gen
 ENVTEST ?= $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
index 208d6369bb..aad92fb4dd 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
@@ -174,20 +174,20 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: install
 install: manifests kustomize ## Install CRDs into the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: uninstall
 uninstall: manifests kustomize ## Uninstall CRDs from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 .PHONY: deploy
 deploy: manifests kustomize ## Deploy controller to the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=${IMG}
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: undeploy
 undeploy: ## Undeploy controller from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 ##@ Build Dependencies
 
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ $(LOCALBIN):
 	mkdir -p $(LOCALBIN)
 
 ## Tool Binaries
+KUBECTL ?= kubectl
 KUSTOMIZE ?= $(LOCALBIN)/kustomize
 CONTROLLER_GEN ?= $(LOCALBIN)/controller-gen
 ENVTEST ?= $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-config/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-config/Makefile
index a2882db925..6060390879 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-config/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-config/Makefile
@@ -110,20 +110,20 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: install
 install: manifests kustomize ## Install CRDs into the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: uninstall
 uninstall: manifests kustomize ## Uninstall CRDs from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 .PHONY: deploy
 deploy: manifests kustomize ## Deploy controller to the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=${IMG}
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: undeploy
 undeploy: ## Undeploy controller from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 ##@ Build Dependencies
 
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ $(LOCALBIN):
 	mkdir -p $(LOCALBIN)
 
 ## Tool Binaries
+KUBECTL ?= kubectl
 KUSTOMIZE ?= $(LOCALBIN)/kustomize
 CONTROLLER_GEN ?= $(LOCALBIN)/controller-gen
 ENVTEST ?= $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-declarative-v1/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-declarative-v1/Makefile
index a2882db925..6060390879 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-declarative-v1/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-declarative-v1/Makefile
@@ -110,20 +110,20 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: install
 install: manifests kustomize ## Install CRDs into the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: uninstall
 uninstall: manifests kustomize ## Uninstall CRDs from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 .PHONY: deploy
 deploy: manifests kustomize ## Deploy controller to the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=${IMG}
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: undeploy
 undeploy: ## Undeploy controller from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 ##@ Build Dependencies
 
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ $(LOCALBIN):
 	mkdir -p $(LOCALBIN)
 
 ## Tool Binaries
+KUBECTL ?= kubectl
 KUSTOMIZE ?= $(LOCALBIN)/kustomize
 CONTROLLER_GEN ?= $(LOCALBIN)/controller-gen
 ENVTEST ?= $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
index a2882db925..6060390879 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
@@ -110,20 +110,20 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: install
 install: manifests kustomize ## Install CRDs into the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: uninstall
 uninstall: manifests kustomize ## Uninstall CRDs from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 .PHONY: deploy
 deploy: manifests kustomize ## Deploy controller to the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=${IMG}
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: undeploy
 undeploy: ## Undeploy controller from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 ##@ Build Dependencies
 
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ $(LOCALBIN):
 	mkdir -p $(LOCALBIN)
 
 ## Tool Binaries
+KUBECTL ?= kubectl
 KUSTOMIZE ?= $(LOCALBIN)/kustomize
 CONTROLLER_GEN ?= $(LOCALBIN)/controller-gen
 ENVTEST ?= $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-deploy-image/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-with-deploy-image/Makefile
index a2882db925..6060390879 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-deploy-image/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-deploy-image/Makefile
@@ -110,20 +110,20 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: install
 install: manifests kustomize ## Install CRDs into the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: uninstall
 uninstall: manifests kustomize ## Uninstall CRDs from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 .PHONY: deploy
 deploy: manifests kustomize ## Deploy controller to the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=${IMG}
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: undeploy
 undeploy: ## Undeploy controller from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 ##@ Build Dependencies
 
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ $(LOCALBIN):
 	mkdir -p $(LOCALBIN)
 
 ## Tool Binaries
+KUBECTL ?= kubectl
 KUSTOMIZE ?= $(LOCALBIN)/kustomize
 CONTROLLER_GEN ?= $(LOCALBIN)/controller-gen
 ENVTEST ?= $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-grafana/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-with-grafana/Makefile
index a2882db925..6060390879 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-grafana/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-grafana/Makefile
@@ -110,20 +110,20 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: install
 install: manifests kustomize ## Install CRDs into the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: uninstall
 uninstall: manifests kustomize ## Uninstall CRDs from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 .PHONY: deploy
 deploy: manifests kustomize ## Deploy controller to the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=${IMG}
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: undeploy
 undeploy: ## Undeploy controller from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 ##@ Build Dependencies
 
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ $(LOCALBIN):
 	mkdir -p $(LOCALBIN)
 
 ## Tool Binaries
+KUBECTL ?= kubectl
 KUSTOMIZE ?= $(LOCALBIN)/kustomize
 CONTROLLER_GEN ?= $(LOCALBIN)/controller-gen
 ENVTEST ?= $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
index a2882db925..6060390879 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
@@ -110,20 +110,20 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: install
 install: manifests kustomize ## Install CRDs into the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: uninstall
 uninstall: manifests kustomize ## Uninstall CRDs from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/crd | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 .PHONY: deploy
 deploy: manifests kustomize ## Deploy controller to the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config.
 	cd config/manager && $(KUSTOMIZE) edit set image controller=${IMG}
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl apply -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) apply -f -
 
 .PHONY: undeploy
 undeploy: ## Undeploy controller from the K8s cluster specified in ~/.kube/config. Call with ignore-not-found=true to ignore resource not found errors during deletion.
-	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | kubectl delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
+	$(KUSTOMIZE) build config/default | $(KUBECTL) delete --ignore-not-found=$(ignore-not-found) -f -
 
 ##@ Build Dependencies
 
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ $(LOCALBIN):
 	mkdir -p $(LOCALBIN)
 
 ## Tool Binaries
+KUBECTL ?= kubectl
 KUSTOMIZE ?= $(LOCALBIN)/kustomize
 CONTROLLER_GEN ?= $(LOCALBIN)/controller-gen
 ENVTEST ?= $(LOCALBIN)/setup-envtest