diff --git a/airflow/contrib/kubernetes/worker_configuration.py b/airflow/contrib/kubernetes/worker_configuration.py
index 62c6ef68b03b3..489ecc1a951f2 100644
--- a/airflow/contrib/kubernetes/worker_configuration.py
+++ b/airflow/contrib/kubernetes/worker_configuration.py
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ def make_pod(self, namespace, worker_uuid, pod_id, dag_id, task_id, execution_da
             image=kube_executor_config.image or self.kube_config.kube_image,
             image_pull_policy=(kube_executor_config.image_pull_policy or
                                self.kube_config.kube_image_pull_policy),
-            cmds=airflow_command,
+            cmds=airflow_command.split(" "),
             labels={
                 'airflow-worker': worker_uuid,
                 'dag_id': dag_id,