diff --git a/roles/kubernetes/preinstall/tasks/0020-verify-settings.yml b/roles/kubernetes/preinstall/tasks/0020-verify-settings.yml
index 3a059c00f..d78d751bc 100644
--- a/roles/kubernetes/preinstall/tasks/0020-verify-settings.yml
+++ b/roles/kubernetes/preinstall/tasks/0020-verify-settings.yml
@@ -199,14 +199,6 @@
     - cloud-provider
     - facts
 
-- name: Ensure minimum calico version
-  assert:
-    that: calico_version is version(calico_min_version_required, '>=')
-    msg: "calico_version is too low. Minimum version {{ calico_min_version_required }}"
-  run_once: yes
-  when:
-    - kube_network_plugin == 'calico'
-
 - name: Get current calico cluster version
   shell: "set -o pipefail && {{ bin_dir }}/calicoctl.sh version  | grep 'Cluster Version:' | awk '{ print $3}'"
   args:
@@ -223,8 +215,10 @@
 - name: Check that current calico version is enough for upgrade
   assert:
     that:
-      - calico_version_on_server.stdout is version( 'v3.0.0', '>=')
-    msg: "Your version of calico is not fresh enough for upgrade. Minimum version is v3.0.0"
+      - calico_version_on_server.stdout is version(calico_min_version_required, '>=')
+    msg: >
+      Your version of calico is not fresh enough for upgrade.
+      Minimum version is {{ calico_min_version_required }} supported by the previous kubespray release.
   when:
     - kube_network_plugin == 'calico'
     - 'calico_version_on_server.stdout is defined'
diff --git a/roles/kubespray-defaults/vars/main.yml b/roles/kubespray-defaults/vars/main.yml
index 4aa76c6d7..a6157d2f8 100644
--- a/roles/kubespray-defaults/vars/main.yml
+++ b/roles/kubespray-defaults/vars/main.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@
 kube_proxy_deployed: "{{ 'addon/kube-proxy' not in kubeadm_init_phases_skip }}"
 
 # The lowest version allowed to upgrade from (same as calico_version in the previous branch)
-calico_min_version_required: "v3.15.2"
+calico_min_version_required: "v3.17.5"
 
 containerd_min_version_required: "1.3.7"