diff --git a/pkg/cli/cmds/root.go b/pkg/cli/cmds/root.go
index b18c5d8f050..c612ef37407 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/cmds/root.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/cmds/root.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package cmds
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 
 	"github.com/rancher/k3s/pkg/version"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
@@ -12,6 +13,13 @@ var (
 	debug bool
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// hack - force "file,dns" lookup order if go dns is used
+	if os.Getenv("RES_OPTIONS") == "" {
+		os.Setenv("RES_OPTIONS", " ")
+	}
+}
+
 func NewApp() *cli.App {
 	app := cli.NewApp()
 	app.Name = appName