diff --git a/pkg/util/image_util.go b/pkg/util/image_util.go
index 9f1e68e51..f241210f9 100644
--- a/pkg/util/image_util.go
+++ b/pkg/util/image_util.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/kaniko/pkg/timing"
 
@@ -118,6 +119,13 @@ func remoteImage(image string, opts *config.KanikoOptions) (v1.Image, error) {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
+		if !strings.ContainsRune(image, '/') {
+			ref, err = name.ParseReference("library/"+image, name.WeakValidation)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		}
+
 		toSet = true
 	}