diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b7d3b17ca..6d32b6701 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -131,9 +131,10 @@ 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:v3.3.1
+export SPARK_PYTHON_IMAGE=docker.io/apache/spark-py:v$(SPARK_PYTHON_VERSION)
 
 FLAG_PREFIX=github.com/apache/yunikorn-k8shim/pkg/conf