diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 91a5bf038c..cadce0eb62 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/gonvenience/ytbx v1.4.4
 	github.com/google/go-cmp v0.5.9
 	github.com/google/go-containerregistry v0.15.2
+	github.com/hashicorp/go-cleanhttp v0.5.2
 	github.com/homeport/dyff v1.5.8
 	github.com/lucasb-eyer/go-colorful v1.2.0
 	github.com/manifoldco/promptui v0.9.0
@@ -146,7 +147,6 @@ require (
 	github.com/gorilla/mux v1.8.0 // indirect
 	github.com/gregjones/httpcache v0.0.0-20190611155906-901d90724c79 // indirect
 	github.com/hashicorp/errwrap v1.1.0 // indirect
-	github.com/hashicorp/go-cleanhttp v0.5.2 // indirect
 	github.com/hashicorp/go-multierror v1.1.1 // indirect
 	github.com/hashicorp/go-retryablehttp v0.7.4 // indirect
 	github.com/hashicorp/golang-lru v0.5.4 // indirect
diff --git a/pkg/manifestgen/install/install.go b/pkg/manifestgen/install/install.go
index 7742e04170..f92ee58cc5 100644
--- a/pkg/manifestgen/install/install.go
+++ b/pkg/manifestgen/install/install.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-cleanhttp"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"path"
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ func Generate(options Options, manifestsBase string) (*manifestgen.Manifest, err
 // GetLatestVersion calls the GitHub API and returns the latest released version.
 func GetLatestVersion() (string, error) {
 	ghURL := "https://api.github.com/repos/fluxcd/flux2/releases/latest"
-	c := http.DefaultClient
+	c := cleanhttp.DefaultClient()
 	c.Timeout = 15 * time.Second
 
 	res, err := c.Get(ghURL)
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ func ExistingVersion(version string) (bool, error) {
 	}
 
 	ghURL := fmt.Sprintf("https://api.github.com/repos/fluxcd/flux2/releases/tags/%s", version)
-	c := http.DefaultClient
+	c := cleanhttp.DefaultClient()
 	c.Timeout = 15 * time.Second
 
 	res, err := c.Get(ghURL)
diff --git a/pkg/manifestgen/install/manifests.go b/pkg/manifestgen/install/manifests.go
index 7e61f31cab..e48eac0a9b 100644
--- a/pkg/manifestgen/install/manifests.go
+++ b/pkg/manifestgen/install/manifests.go
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-cleanhttp"
+
 	"github.com/fluxcd/pkg/kustomize/filesys"
 	"github.com/fluxcd/pkg/tar"
 
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@ func fetch(ctx context.Context, url, version, dir string) error {
 	}
 
 	// download
-	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req.WithContext(ctx))
+	resp, err := cleanhttp.DefaultClient().Do(req.WithContext(ctx))
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to download manifests.tar.gz from %s, error: %w", ghURL, err)
 	}