diff --git a/integration/examples/annotated-skaffold.yaml b/integration/examples/annotated-skaffold.yaml
index ac9399483eb..942255cd33c 100644
--- a/integration/examples/annotated-skaffold.yaml
+++ b/integration/examples/annotated-skaffold.yaml
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ deploy:
     # - namespace:deployment/web-app2
 
  # kustomize:
-    # kustomizePath: "kustomization.yaml"
+    # path: .
     # kustomize deploys manifests with kubectl.
     # kubectl can be passed additional option flags either on every command (Global),
     # on creations (Apply) or deletions (Delete).
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/config/transform/transforms.go b/pkg/skaffold/config/transform/transforms.go
index e292195497a..1f97708340a 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/config/transform/transforms.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/config/transform/transforms.go
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ func ToV1Alpha3(vc util.VersionedConfig) (util.VersionedConfig, error) {
 	if err := convert(oldConfig.Deploy, &newDeploy); err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "converting deploy config")
 	}
+
 	// if the helm deploy config was set, then convert ValueFilePath to ValuesFiles
 	if oldHelmDeploy := oldConfig.Deploy.DeployType.HelmDeploy; oldHelmDeploy != nil {
 		for i, oldHelmRelease := range oldHelmDeploy.Releases {
@@ -141,6 +142,12 @@ func ToV1Alpha3(vc util.VersionedConfig) (util.VersionedConfig, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// the kustomize path parameter was renamed
+	kustomize := oldConfig.Deploy.KustomizeDeploy
+	if kustomize != nil {
+		newDeploy.KustomizeDeploy.Path = kustomize.KustomizePath
+	}
+
 	// convert v1alpha2.Profiles to v1alpha3.Profiles (should be the same)
 	var newProfiles []v1alpha3.Profile
 	if oldConfig.Profiles != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize.go b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize.go
index 7dd3c5a3088..96271433e3f 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize.go
@@ -164,11 +164,11 @@ func joinPaths(root string, paths []string) []string {
 
 // Dependencies lists all the files that can change what needs to be deployed.
 func (k *KustomizeDeployer) Dependencies() ([]string, error) {
-	return dependenciesForKustomization(k.KustomizePath)
+	return dependenciesForKustomization(k.Path)
 }
 
 func (k *KustomizeDeployer) readManifests(ctx context.Context) (kubectl.ManifestList, error) {
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "kustomize", "build", k.KustomizePath)
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "kustomize", "build", k.Path)
 	out, err := util.RunCmdOut(cmd)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "kustomize build")
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/schema/v1alpha3/config.go b/pkg/skaffold/schema/v1alpha3/config.go
index 665861826b6..a861a4c116b 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/schema/v1alpha3/config.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/schema/v1alpha3/config.go
@@ -144,9 +144,10 @@ type HelmDeploy struct {
 	Releases []HelmRelease `yaml:"releases,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// KustomizeDeploy contains the configuration needed for deploying with kustomize.
 type KustomizeDeploy struct {
-	KustomizePath string       `yaml:"kustomizePath,omitempty"`
-	Flags         KubectlFlags `yaml:"flags,omitempty"`
+	Path  string       `yaml:"path,omitempty"`
+	Flags KubectlFlags `yaml:"flags,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type HelmRelease struct {
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/schema/v1alpha3/defaults.go b/pkg/skaffold/schema/v1alpha3/defaults.go
index 965f6abf0b8..36e1c1a0a88 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/schema/v1alpha3/defaults.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/schema/v1alpha3/defaults.go
@@ -95,8 +95,13 @@ func (c *SkaffoldConfig) setDefaultTagger() {
 }
 
 func (c *SkaffoldConfig) setDefaultKustomizePath() {
-	if c.Deploy.KustomizeDeploy != nil && c.Deploy.KustomizeDeploy.KustomizePath == "" {
-		c.Deploy.KustomizeDeploy.KustomizePath = constants.DefaultKustomizationPath
+	kustomize := c.Deploy.KustomizeDeploy
+	if kustomize == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if kustomize.Path == "" {
+		kustomize.Path = constants.DefaultKustomizationPath
 	}
 }