diff --git a/cmd/kops/validate_cluster.go b/cmd/kops/validate_cluster.go
index ca679b0286f0f..7fe67fee182f7 100644
--- a/cmd/kops/validate_cluster.go
+++ b/cmd/kops/validate_cluster.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
-	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -38,13 +37,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/kops/util/pkg/tables"
 )
 
-func init() {
-	if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
-		// In order for net.LookupHost(apiAddr.Host) to lookup our placeholder address on darwin, we have to
-		os.Setenv("GODEBUG", "netdns=go")
-	}
-}
-
 type ValidateClusterOptions struct {
 	output string
 	wait   time.Duration