diff --git a/cmd/aws-iam-authenticator/add.go b/cmd/aws-iam-authenticator/add.go
index d86f19512..979d2a2ea 100644
--- a/cmd/aws-iam-authenticator/add.go
+++ b/cmd/aws-iam-authenticator/add.go
@@ -157,6 +157,8 @@ func createClient() client.Client {
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 	}
+	kcfg.AcceptContentTypes = "application/vnd.kubernetes.protobuf,application/json"
+	kcfg.ContentType = "application/vnd.kubernetes.protobuf"
 	clientset, err := kubernetes.NewForConfig(kcfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println(err)
diff --git a/pkg/mapper/configmap/configmap.go b/pkg/mapper/configmap/configmap.go
index 69c92d8b6..783fe9b8b 100644
--- a/pkg/mapper/configmap/configmap.go
+++ b/pkg/mapper/configmap/configmap.go
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ func New(masterURL, kubeConfig string) (*MapStore, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	clientconfig.AcceptContentTypes = "application/vnd.kubernetes.protobuf,application/json"
+	clientconfig.ContentType = "application/vnd.kubernetes.protobuf"
 	clientset, err := kubernetes.NewForConfig(clientconfig)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err