diff --git a/pkg/config/transform.go b/pkg/config/transform.go
index f585ccb2..26951eaa 100644
--- a/pkg/config/transform.go
+++ b/pkg/config/transform.go
@@ -62,12 +62,12 @@ func TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(ctx context.Context, runtime runtimes.Runtim
 	}
 
 	// -> API
-	if simpleConfig.ExposeAPI.Host == "" {
-		simpleConfig.ExposeAPI.Host = k3d.DefaultAPIHost
-	}
 	if simpleConfig.ExposeAPI.HostIP == "" {
 		simpleConfig.ExposeAPI.HostIP = k3d.DefaultAPIHost
 	}
+	if simpleConfig.ExposeAPI.Host == "" {
+		simpleConfig.ExposeAPI.Host = simpleConfig.ExposeAPI.HostIP
+	}
 
 	kubeAPIExposureOpts := &k3d.ExposureOpts{
 		Host: simpleConfig.ExposeAPI.Host,