diff --git a/extensions/node-menu/src/node-menu.tsx b/extensions/node-menu/src/node-menu.tsx
index be5ebdcb9e..a2412ec285 100644
--- a/extensions/node-menu/src/node-menu.tsx
+++ b/extensions/node-menu/src/node-menu.tsx
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 
 import React from "react";
 import { Common, Renderer } from "@k8slens/extensions";
-import { inspect } from "util";
 
 type Node = Renderer.K8sApi.Node;
 
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ export function NodeMenu(props: NodeMenuProps) {
 
   if (!node) return null;
   const nodeName = node.getName();
-  const kubectlPath = inspect(UserPreferences.getKubectlPath(), false, null, false);
+  const kubectlPath = JSON.stringify(UserPreferences.getKubectlPath()); // this call escapes spaces and quotes
 
   const sendToTerminal = (command: string) => {
     terminalStore.sendCommand(command, {
diff --git a/extensions/pod-menu/src/attach-menu.tsx b/extensions/pod-menu/src/attach-menu.tsx
index ab9476a0dc..e1e63b1e36 100644
--- a/extensions/pod-menu/src/attach-menu.tsx
+++ b/extensions/pod-menu/src/attach-menu.tsx
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 
 import React from "react";
 import { Renderer, Common } from "@k8slens/extensions";
-import { inspect } from "util";
 
 type Pod = Renderer.K8sApi.Pod;
 
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ export class PodAttachMenu extends React.Component<PodAttachMenuProps> {
     const { object: pod } = this.props;
 
     const commandParts = [
-      inspect(UserPreferences.getKubectlPath(), false, null, false),
+      JSON.stringify(UserPreferences.getKubectlPath()), // this call escapes spaces and quotes
       "attach",
       "-i",
       "-t",
diff --git a/extensions/pod-menu/src/shell-menu.tsx b/extensions/pod-menu/src/shell-menu.tsx
index ba71cd1a2b..01921626df 100644
--- a/extensions/pod-menu/src/shell-menu.tsx
+++ b/extensions/pod-menu/src/shell-menu.tsx
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 
 import React from "react";
 import { Renderer, Common } from "@k8slens/extensions";
-import { inspect } from "util";
 
 type Pod = Renderer.K8sApi.Pod;
 
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ export class PodShellMenu extends React.Component<PodShellMenuProps> {
     const { object: pod } = this.props;
 
     const commandParts = [
-      inspect(UserPreferences.getKubectlPath(), false, null, false),
+      JSON.stringify(UserPreferences.getKubectlPath()), // this call escapes spaces and quotes
       "exec",
       "-i",
       "-t",