diff --git a/hieradata/roles/infra/k8s.yaml b/hieradata/roles/infra/k8s.yaml
index d8c9bcb..b91b86a 100644
--- a/hieradata/roles/infra/k8s.yaml
+++ b/hieradata/roles/infra/k8s.yaml
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ hiera_include:
 # manage rke2
 rke2::bootstrap_node: prodnxsr0001.main.unkin.net
 rke2::join_url: https://join-k8s.service.consul:9345
+# pull the airgap image bundle via artifactapi (host-reachable pre-CNI), not github directly
+rke2::container_archive_source: 'https://artifactapi.k8s.syd1.au.unkin.net/api/v1/remote/github/rancher/rke2/releases/download'
 rke2::manage_registries: true
 rke2::registries:
   docker.io:
diff --git a/modules/rke2/manifests/install.pp b/modules/rke2/manifests/install.pp
index f15764d..7c5b7b3 100644
--- a/modules/rke2/manifests/install.pp
+++ b/modules/rke2/manifests/install.pp
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ class rke2::install (
     before  => Service["rke2-${node_type}"],
   }
 
-  # download required archive of containers
+  # preload the airgap bundle (has the default canal CNI images) so canal starts from disk, not the mirror VIP that needs flannel first
   archive { '/var/lib/rancher/rke2/agent/images/rke2-images.linux-amd64.tar.zst':
     ensure  => present,
-    source  => "https://artifactapi.k8s.syd1.au.unkin.net/api/v1/remote/github/rancher/rke2/releases/download/v${rke2_version}%2B${rke2_release}/rke2-images.linux-amd64.tar.zst",
+    source  => "${container_archive_source}/v${rke2_version}%2B${rke2_release}/rke2-images.linux-amd64.tar.zst",
     require => [
       Package["rke2-${node_type}"],
       File['/var/lib/rancher/rke2/agent/images'],
diff --git a/modules/rke2/manifests/params.pp b/modules/rke2/manifests/params.pp
index 4c110dc..9d5a443 100644
--- a/modules/rke2/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/modules/rke2/manifests/params.pp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # rke2 params
 class rke2::params (
   Enum['server', 'agent'] $node_type = 'agent',
-  String                  $rke2_version = '1.33.4',
+  String                  $rke2_version = '1.33.11',
   String                  $rke2_release = 'rke2r1',
   Stdlib::Absolutepath    $config_file = '/etc/rancher/rke2/config.yaml',
   Hash                    $config_hash = {},