diff --git a/phase/initialize_k0s.go b/phase/initialize_k0s.go
index b0a31aa1..fe2f0b03 100644
--- a/phase/initialize_k0s.go
+++ b/phase/initialize_k0s.go
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ func (p *InitializeK0s) Run() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	port := p.Config.Spec.K0s.Config.Dig("spec", "api", "port").(int)
-	if port == 0 {
-		port = 6443
+	port := 6443
+	if p, ok := p.Config.Spec.K0s.Config.Dig("spec", "api", "port").(int); ok {
+		port = p
 	}
 	log.Infof("%s: waiting for kubernetes api to respond", h)
 	if err := h.WaitKubeAPIReady(port); err != nil {
diff --git a/phase/install_controllers.go b/phase/install_controllers.go
index 84f41135..e21fe9d8 100644
--- a/phase/install_controllers.go
+++ b/phase/install_controllers.go
@@ -79,10 +79,11 @@ func (p *InstallControllers) Run() error {
 }
 
 func (p *InstallControllers) waitJoined(h *cluster.Host) error {
-	port := p.Config.Spec.K0s.Config.Dig("spec", "api", "port").(int)
-	if port == 0 {
-		port = 6443
+	port := 6443
+	if p, ok := p.Config.Spec.K0s.Config.Dig("spec", "api", "port").(int); ok {
+		port = p
 	}
+
 	log.Infof("%s: waiting for kubernetes api to respond", h)
 	return h.WaitKubeAPIReady(port)
 }
diff --git a/phase/upgrade_controllers.go b/phase/upgrade_controllers.go
index 9ac2cd99..fd86b6fa 100644
--- a/phase/upgrade_controllers.go
+++ b/phase/upgrade_controllers.go
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ func (p *UpgradeControllers) Run() error {
 		if err := h.WaitK0sServiceRunning(); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		port := p.Config.Spec.K0s.Config.Dig("spec", "api", "port").(int)
-		if port == 0 {
-			port = 6443
+		port := 6443
+		if p, ok := p.Config.Spec.K0s.Config.Dig("spec", "api", "port").(int); ok {
+			port = p
 		}
 		if err := h.WaitKubeAPIReady(port); err != nil {
 			return err