diff --git a/tests/vm/scripts/configure.sh b/tests/vm/scripts/configure.sh
index 25c0e46..06c2b7e 100644
--- a/tests/vm/scripts/configure.sh
+++ b/tests/vm/scripts/configure.sh
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ for name in primary secondary; do
 done
 
 # NOTE: a regex in the updatecli config depends on this exact syntax!
-export INSTALL_K3S_VERSION=v1.34.2+k3s1
+export INSTALL_K3S_VERSION=v1.36.4+k3s1
 
 curl -sfL https://get.k3s.io | sh -s - \
     --disable-helm-controller --disable=traefik \