diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/docker-env.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/docker-env.go
index c4432c6b5825..9d8914a2d731 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/docker-env.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/docker-env.go
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
+	lib_shell "github.com/docker/machine/libmachine/shell"
+	"github.com/golang/glog"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/drivers/kic/oci"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/command"
@@ -168,7 +170,14 @@ var dockerEnvCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		if ec.Shell == "" {
 			ec.Shell, err = shell.Detect()
 			if err != nil {
-				exit.WithError("Error detecting shell", err)
+				// if we can't detect it could be bash. for example github actions
+				if err == lib_shell.ErrUnknownShell {
+					ec.Shell = "bash"
+					glog.Warningf("couldn't detect shell type, will default to bash: %v", err)
+				} else {
+					exit.WithError("Error detecting shell", err)
+				}
+
 			}
 		}