diff --git a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
index 11e1a1d9dec..bbbc9817b16 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ test-e2e: manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated
 		echo "No Kind cluster is running. Please start a Kind cluster before running the e2e tests."; \
 		exit 1; \
 	}
-	go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
+	KIND=$(KIND) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 
 .PHONY: lint
 lint: golangci-lint ## Run golangci-lint linter
diff --git a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go
index 9419db9a8d0..7169388e81f 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go
+++ b/docs/book/src/cronjob-tutorial/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
+	certmanagerVersion        = "v1.16.3"
+	certmanagerURLTmpl        = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
+	defaultKindCluster        = "kind"
 	prometheusOperatorVersion = "v0.77.1"
 	prometheusOperatorURL     = "https://github.com/prometheus-operator/prometheus-operator/" +
 		"releases/download/%s/bundle.yaml"
-
-	certmanagerVersion = "v1.16.3"
-	certmanagerURLTmpl = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
 )
 
 func warnError(err error) {
@@ -167,12 +167,16 @@ func IsCertManagerCRDsInstalled() bool {
 
 // LoadImageToKindClusterWithName loads a local docker image to the kind cluster
 func LoadImageToKindClusterWithName(name string) error {
-	cluster := "kind"
+	cluster := defaultKindCluster
 	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND_CLUSTER"); ok {
 		cluster = v
 	}
 	kindOptions := []string{"load", "docker-image", name, "--name", cluster}
-	cmd := exec.Command("kind", kindOptions...)
+	kindBinary := defaultKindCluster
+	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND"); ok {
+		kindBinary = v
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(kindBinary, kindOptions...)
 	_, err := Run(cmd)
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile
index b41b8433010..76c1d7c00b7 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ test-e2e: manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated
 		echo "No Kind cluster is running. Please start a Kind cluster before running the e2e tests."; \
 		exit 1; \
 	}
-	go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
+	KIND=$(KIND) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 
 .PHONY: lint
 lint: golangci-lint ## Run golangci-lint linter
diff --git a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go
index 9419db9a8d0..7169388e81f 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go
+++ b/docs/book/src/getting-started/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
+	certmanagerVersion        = "v1.16.3"
+	certmanagerURLTmpl        = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
+	defaultKindCluster        = "kind"
 	prometheusOperatorVersion = "v0.77.1"
 	prometheusOperatorURL     = "https://github.com/prometheus-operator/prometheus-operator/" +
 		"releases/download/%s/bundle.yaml"
-
-	certmanagerVersion = "v1.16.3"
-	certmanagerURLTmpl = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
 )
 
 func warnError(err error) {
@@ -167,12 +167,16 @@ func IsCertManagerCRDsInstalled() bool {
 
 // LoadImageToKindClusterWithName loads a local docker image to the kind cluster
 func LoadImageToKindClusterWithName(name string) error {
-	cluster := "kind"
+	cluster := defaultKindCluster
 	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND_CLUSTER"); ok {
 		cluster = v
 	}
 	kindOptions := []string{"load", "docker-image", name, "--name", cluster}
-	cmd := exec.Command("kind", kindOptions...)
+	kindBinary := defaultKindCluster
+	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND"); ok {
+		kindBinary = v
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(kindBinary, kindOptions...)
 	_, err := Run(cmd)
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
index 11e1a1d9dec..bbbc9817b16 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
+++ b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/Makefile
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ test-e2e: manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated
 		echo "No Kind cluster is running. Please start a Kind cluster before running the e2e tests."; \
 		exit 1; \
 	}
-	go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
+	KIND=$(KIND) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 
 .PHONY: lint
 lint: golangci-lint ## Run golangci-lint linter
diff --git a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go
index 9419db9a8d0..7169388e81f 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go
+++ b/docs/book/src/multiversion-tutorial/testdata/project/test/utils/utils.go
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
+	certmanagerVersion        = "v1.16.3"
+	certmanagerURLTmpl        = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
+	defaultKindCluster        = "kind"
 	prometheusOperatorVersion = "v0.77.1"
 	prometheusOperatorURL     = "https://github.com/prometheus-operator/prometheus-operator/" +
 		"releases/download/%s/bundle.yaml"
-
-	certmanagerVersion = "v1.16.3"
-	certmanagerURLTmpl = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
 )
 
 func warnError(err error) {
@@ -167,12 +167,16 @@ func IsCertManagerCRDsInstalled() bool {
 
 // LoadImageToKindClusterWithName loads a local docker image to the kind cluster
 func LoadImageToKindClusterWithName(name string) error {
-	cluster := "kind"
+	cluster := defaultKindCluster
 	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND_CLUSTER"); ok {
 		cluster = v
 	}
 	kindOptions := []string{"load", "docker-image", name, "--name", cluster}
-	cmd := exec.Command("kind", kindOptions...)
+	kindBinary := defaultKindCluster
+	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND"); ok {
+		kindBinary = v
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(kindBinary, kindOptions...)
 	_, err := Run(cmd)
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/docs/book/src/reference/envtest.md b/docs/book/src/reference/envtest.md
index b74f748ad3c..35a3740522b 100644
--- a/docs/book/src/reference/envtest.md
+++ b/docs/book/src/reference/envtest.md
@@ -258,10 +258,11 @@ Check the following example of how you can implement the above operations:
 
 ```go
 const (
+	certmanagerVersion        = "v1.5.3"
+	certmanagerURLTmpl        = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
+	defaultKindCluster        = "kind"
 	prometheusOperatorVersion = "0.51"
 	prometheusOperatorURL     = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/prometheus-operator/" + "prometheus-operator/release-%s/bundle.yaml"
-	certmanagerVersion = "v1.5.3"
-	certmanagerURLTmpl = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
 )
 
 func warnError(err error) {
@@ -315,13 +316,16 @@ func InstallCertManager() error {
 
 // LoadImageToKindClusterWithName loads a local docker image to the kind cluster
 func LoadImageToKindClusterWithName(name string) error {
-	cluster := "kind"
+	cluster := defaultKindCluster
 	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND_CLUSTER"); ok {
 		cluster = v
 	}
-
 	kindOptions := []string{"load", "docker-image", name, "--name", cluster}
-	cmd := exec.Command("kind", kindOptions...)
+	kindBinary := defaultKindCluster
+	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND"); ok {
+		kindBinary = v
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(kindBinary, kindOptions...)
 	_, err := Run(cmd)
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
index bb47e9eece0..f302c6e772d 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ test-e2e: manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated
 		echo "No Kind cluster is running. Please start a Kind cluster before running the e2e tests."; \
 		exit 1; \
 	}
-	go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
+	KIND=$(KIND) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 
 .PHONY: lint
 lint: golangci-lint ## Run golangci-lint linter
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/test/utils/utils.go b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/test/utils/utils.go
index 5ea882f0908..901461eb4de 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/test/utils/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/golang/v4/scaffolds/internal/templates/test/utils/utils.go
@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
+	certmanagerVersion        = "v1.16.3"
+	certmanagerURLTmpl        = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
+	defaultKindCluster        = "kind"
 	prometheusOperatorVersion = "v0.77.1"
 	prometheusOperatorURL     = "https://github.com/prometheus-operator/prometheus-operator/" +
 		"releases/download/%s/bundle.yaml"
-
-	certmanagerVersion = "v1.16.3"
-	certmanagerURLTmpl = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
 )
 
 func warnError(err error) {
@@ -194,12 +194,16 @@ func IsCertManagerCRDsInstalled() bool {
 
 // LoadImageToKindClusterWithName loads a local docker image to the kind cluster
 func LoadImageToKindClusterWithName(name string) error {
-	cluster := "kind"
+	cluster := defaultKindCluster
 	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND_CLUSTER"); ok {
 		cluster = v
 	}
 	kindOptions := []string{"load", "docker-image", name, "--name", cluster}
-	cmd := exec.Command("kind", kindOptions...)
+	kindBinary := defaultKindCluster
+	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND"); ok {
+		kindBinary = v
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(kindBinary, kindOptions...)
 	_, err := Run(cmd)
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/test/e2e/utils/test_context.go b/test/e2e/utils/test_context.go
index 4320dea0eb4..e186ca4f760 100644
--- a/test/e2e/utils/test_context.go
+++ b/test/e2e/utils/test_context.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import (
 const (
 	certmanagerVersion        = "v1.16.3"
 	certmanagerURLTmpl        = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
+	defaultKindCluster        = "kind"
 	prometheusOperatorVersion = "v0.77.1"
 	prometheusOperatorURL     = "https://github.com/prometheus-operator/prometheus-operator/" +
 		"releases/download/%s/bundle.yaml"
@@ -269,24 +270,32 @@ func (t *TestContext) RemoveNamespaceLabelToEnforceRestricted() error {
 
 // LoadImageToKindCluster loads a local docker image to the kind cluster
 func (t *TestContext) LoadImageToKindCluster() error {
-	cluster := "kind"
+	cluster := defaultKindCluster
 	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND_CLUSTER"); ok {
 		cluster = v
 	}
 	kindOptions := []string{"load", "docker-image", t.ImageName, "--name", cluster}
-	cmd := exec.Command("kind", kindOptions...)
+	kindBinary := defaultKindCluster
+	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND"); ok {
+		kindBinary = v
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(kindBinary, kindOptions...)
 	_, err := t.Run(cmd)
 	return err
 }
 
 // LoadImageToKindClusterWithName loads a local docker image with the name informed to the kind cluster
 func (t TestContext) LoadImageToKindClusterWithName(image string) error {
-	cluster := "kind"
+	cluster := defaultKindCluster
 	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND_CLUSTER"); ok {
 		cluster = v
 	}
 	kindOptions := []string{"load", "docker-image", "--name", cluster, image}
-	cmd := exec.Command("kind", kindOptions...)
+	kindBinary := defaultKindCluster
+	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND"); ok {
+		kindBinary = v
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(kindBinary, kindOptions...)
 	_, err := t.Run(cmd)
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
index 1e22f4e83a7..366a51a799f 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/Makefile
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ test-e2e: manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated
 		echo "No Kind cluster is running. Please start a Kind cluster before running the e2e tests."; \
 		exit 1; \
 	}
-	go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
+	KIND=$(KIND) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 
 .PHONY: lint
 lint: golangci-lint ## Run golangci-lint linter
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/test/utils/utils.go b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/test/utils/utils.go
index 9419db9a8d0..7169388e81f 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/test/utils/utils.go
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-multigroup/test/utils/utils.go
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
+	certmanagerVersion        = "v1.16.3"
+	certmanagerURLTmpl        = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
+	defaultKindCluster        = "kind"
 	prometheusOperatorVersion = "v0.77.1"
 	prometheusOperatorURL     = "https://github.com/prometheus-operator/prometheus-operator/" +
 		"releases/download/%s/bundle.yaml"
-
-	certmanagerVersion = "v1.16.3"
-	certmanagerURLTmpl = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
 )
 
 func warnError(err error) {
@@ -167,12 +167,16 @@ func IsCertManagerCRDsInstalled() bool {
 
 // LoadImageToKindClusterWithName loads a local docker image to the kind cluster
 func LoadImageToKindClusterWithName(name string) error {
-	cluster := "kind"
+	cluster := defaultKindCluster
 	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND_CLUSTER"); ok {
 		cluster = v
 	}
 	kindOptions := []string{"load", "docker-image", name, "--name", cluster}
-	cmd := exec.Command("kind", kindOptions...)
+	kindBinary := defaultKindCluster
+	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND"); ok {
+		kindBinary = v
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(kindBinary, kindOptions...)
 	_, err := Run(cmd)
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/Makefile
index 2ebd61fbfe6..7724c4439d2 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/Makefile
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ test-e2e: manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated
 		echo "No Kind cluster is running. Please start a Kind cluster before running the e2e tests."; \
 		exit 1; \
 	}
-	go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
+	KIND=$(KIND) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 
 .PHONY: lint
 lint: golangci-lint ## Run golangci-lint linter
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/test/utils/utils.go b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/test/utils/utils.go
index 9419db9a8d0..7169388e81f 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/test/utils/utils.go
+++ b/testdata/project-v4-with-plugins/test/utils/utils.go
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
+	certmanagerVersion        = "v1.16.3"
+	certmanagerURLTmpl        = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
+	defaultKindCluster        = "kind"
 	prometheusOperatorVersion = "v0.77.1"
 	prometheusOperatorURL     = "https://github.com/prometheus-operator/prometheus-operator/" +
 		"releases/download/%s/bundle.yaml"
-
-	certmanagerVersion = "v1.16.3"
-	certmanagerURLTmpl = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
 )
 
 func warnError(err error) {
@@ -167,12 +167,16 @@ func IsCertManagerCRDsInstalled() bool {
 
 // LoadImageToKindClusterWithName loads a local docker image to the kind cluster
 func LoadImageToKindClusterWithName(name string) error {
-	cluster := "kind"
+	cluster := defaultKindCluster
 	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND_CLUSTER"); ok {
 		cluster = v
 	}
 	kindOptions := []string{"load", "docker-image", name, "--name", cluster}
-	cmd := exec.Command("kind", kindOptions...)
+	kindBinary := defaultKindCluster
+	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND"); ok {
+		kindBinary = v
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(kindBinary, kindOptions...)
 	_, err := Run(cmd)
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4/Makefile b/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
index 4cdd46875cf..c0582385c63 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/project-v4/Makefile
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ test-e2e: manifests generate fmt vet ## Run the e2e tests. Expected an isolated
 		echo "No Kind cluster is running. Please start a Kind cluster before running the e2e tests."; \
 		exit 1; \
 	}
-	go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
+	KIND=$(KIND) go test ./test/e2e/ -v -ginkgo.v
 
 .PHONY: lint
 lint: golangci-lint ## Run golangci-lint linter
diff --git a/testdata/project-v4/test/utils/utils.go b/testdata/project-v4/test/utils/utils.go
index 9419db9a8d0..7169388e81f 100644
--- a/testdata/project-v4/test/utils/utils.go
+++ b/testdata/project-v4/test/utils/utils.go
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
+	certmanagerVersion        = "v1.16.3"
+	certmanagerURLTmpl        = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
+	defaultKindCluster        = "kind"
 	prometheusOperatorVersion = "v0.77.1"
 	prometheusOperatorURL     = "https://github.com/prometheus-operator/prometheus-operator/" +
 		"releases/download/%s/bundle.yaml"
-
-	certmanagerVersion = "v1.16.3"
-	certmanagerURLTmpl = "https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/%s/cert-manager.yaml"
 )
 
 func warnError(err error) {
@@ -167,12 +167,16 @@ func IsCertManagerCRDsInstalled() bool {
 
 // LoadImageToKindClusterWithName loads a local docker image to the kind cluster
 func LoadImageToKindClusterWithName(name string) error {
-	cluster := "kind"
+	cluster := defaultKindCluster
 	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND_CLUSTER"); ok {
 		cluster = v
 	}
 	kindOptions := []string{"load", "docker-image", name, "--name", cluster}
-	cmd := exec.Command("kind", kindOptions...)
+	kindBinary := defaultKindCluster
+	if v, ok := os.LookupEnv("KIND"); ok {
+		kindBinary = v
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(kindBinary, kindOptions...)
 	_, err := Run(cmd)
 	return err
 }