diff --git a/bin/skaffold-import-images-to-minikube b/bin/skaffold-import-images-to-minikube
index 83c404442b6..b15f2e0114e 100755
--- a/bin/skaffold-import-images-to-minikube
+++ b/bin/skaffold-import-images-to-minikube
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ path_to_input_folder=$(relativize_path "../skaffold-images")
 
 ensure_program_in_path jq
 
+make_sure_skaffold_local_env_patch_files_exists
+
 point_docker_cli_to_minikube_docker
 
 files=$(find "$path_to_input_folder" -name '*.tar.zst' )