diff --git a/cmd/settings.go b/cmd/settings.go
index cd2d176..55508de 100644
--- a/cmd/settings.go
+++ b/cmd/settings.go
@@ -86,12 +86,12 @@ func (c *Config) trySetDefaultPodmanBin(file string) (found bool, err error) {
 
 func (c *Config) loadRunnerImg() error {
 	// TODO(maufart): ensure Config struct works/parses it values from ENV and defaults correctly
-	runnerImg, found := os.LookupEnv("RUNNER_IMG");
-	if !found {
-		runnerImg = "quay.io/konveyor/kantra"
+	// Respect existing RUNNER_IMG setting
+	if os.Getenv("RUNNER_IMG") != "" {
+		return nil
 	}
 	// if version tag is given in image
-	img := strings.TrimSuffix(runnerImg, fmt.Sprintf(":%v", Version))
+	img := strings.TrimSuffix(RunnerImage, fmt.Sprintf(":%v", Version))
 	updatedImg := fmt.Sprintf("%v:%v", img, Version)
 	err := os.Setenv("RUNNER_IMG", updatedImg)
 	if err != nil {