diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 6d32b6701..b7d3b17ca 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -131,10 +131,9 @@ HELM_ARCHIVE_BASE=$(OS)-$(EXEC_ARCH)
 
 # spark
 export SPARK_VERSION=3.3.3
-export SPARK_PYTHON_VERSION=3.3.1 # sometimes the image is not avaiable with $SPARK_VERSION, the minor version must match
 export SPARK_HOME=$(BASE_DIR)$(TOOLS_DIR)/spark
 export SPARK_SUBMIT_CMD=$(SPARK_HOME)/bin/spark-submit
-export SPARK_PYTHON_IMAGE=docker.io/apache/spark-py:v$(SPARK_PYTHON_VERSION)
+export SPARK_PYTHON_IMAGE=docker.io/apache/spark-py:v3.3.1
 
 FLAG_PREFIX=github.com/apache/yunikorn-k8shim/pkg/conf