diff --git a/cmd/rook/operator.go b/cmd/rook/operator.go
index 29d0f7e9d..ba3e803dc 100644
--- a/cmd/rook/operator.go
+++ b/cmd/rook/operator.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package main
 
 import (
+	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/rook/rook/pkg/clusterd"
@@ -46,6 +47,9 @@ func startOperator(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	setLogLevel()
 
+	// workaround a k8s logging issue: https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/17162
+	flag.CommandLine.Parse([]string{})
+
 	logStartupInfo(operatorCmd.Flags())
 
 	clientset, apiExtClientset, rookClientset, err := getClientset()