diff --git a/pkg/client/cluster.go b/pkg/client/cluster.go
index d21b6f07a..a5dd64707 100644
--- a/pkg/client/cluster.go
+++ b/pkg/client/cluster.go
@@ -1114,13 +1114,11 @@ func ClusterStart(ctx context.Context, runtime k3drt.Runtime, cluster *k3d.Clust
 
 					// get the first server in the list and run action on it once it's ready for it
 					for _, n := range servers {
-						// do not try to run the action, if CoreDNS is disabled on K3s level
-						for _, flag := range n.Args {
-							if strings.HasPrefix(flag, "--disable") && strings.Contains(flag, "coredns") {
-								l.Log().Debugf("CoreDNS disabled in K3s via flag `%s`. Not trying to use it.", flag)
-								return nil
-							}
+						if coreDNSDisabledLabel, exists := n.RuntimeLabels[k3d.LabelClusterCoreDNSDisabled]; exists && coreDNSDisabledLabel == "true" {
+							l.Log().Debugf("CoreDNS disabled via cluster label. Not trying to use it.")
+							return nil
 						}
+
 						ts, err := time.Parse("2006-01-02T15:04:05.999999999Z", n.State.Started)
 						if err != nil {
 							return err
diff --git a/pkg/config/transform.go b/pkg/config/transform.go
index 12ca8b49b..08c96fae3 100644
--- a/pkg/config/transform.go
+++ b/pkg/config/transform.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
+	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
 	wharfie "github.com/rancher/wharfie/pkg/registries"
@@ -269,6 +270,7 @@ func TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(ctx context.Context, runtime runtimes.Runtim
 	}
 
 	// -> ARGS
+	coreDNSDisabled := false
 	for _, argWithNodeFilters := range simpleConfig.Options.K3sOptions.ExtraArgs {
 		if len(argWithNodeFilters.NodeFilters) == 0 && nodeCount > 1 {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("K3sExtraArg '%s' lacks a node filter, but there's more than one node", argWithNodeFilters.Arg)
@@ -282,6 +284,11 @@ func TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(ctx context.Context, runtime runtimes.Runtim
 		for _, node := range nodes {
 			node.Args = append(node.Args, argWithNodeFilters.Arg)
 		}
+
+		if regexp.MustCompile(`^--disable\s*(=|\s)\s*coredns$`).MatchString(argWithNodeFilters.Arg) {
+			coreDNSDisabled = true
+		}
+
 	}
 
 	/**************************
@@ -306,6 +313,10 @@ func TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(ctx context.Context, runtime runtimes.Runtim
 		clusterCreateOpts.GlobalLabels[k] = v
 	}
 
+	if coreDNSDisabled {
+		clusterCreateOpts.GlobalLabels[k3d.LabelClusterCoreDNSDisabled] = "true"
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * Registries
 	 */
diff --git a/pkg/types/types.go b/pkg/types/types.go
index 4c1cf6c8c..393949e84 100644
--- a/pkg/types/types.go
+++ b/pkg/types/types.go
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ const (
 	LabelNetworkID               string = "k3d.cluster.network.id"
 	LabelNetworkIPRange          string = "k3d.cluster.network.iprange"
 	LabelClusterStartHostAliases string = "k3d.cluster.start.hostaliases"
+	LabelClusterCoreDNSDisabled  string = "k3d.cluster.coredns.disabled"
 	LabelRole                    string = "k3d.role"
 	LabelServerAPIPort           string = "k3d.server.api.port"
 	LabelServerAPIHost           string = "k3d.server.api.host"