diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile b/docker/Dockerfile
index baaf42b3..1ef1fbdc 100644
--- a/docker/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/Dockerfile
@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ RUN chmod +x /usr/local/bin/*
 COPY --from=0 /zu/build/libs/zu.jar /opt/libs/
 
 RUN apt-get -q update && \
-    apt-get install -y dnsutils curl procps
+    apt-get install -y dnsutils curl procps socat
diff --git a/docker/bin/zookeeperLive.sh b/docker/bin/zookeeperLive.sh
index 9291c0e5..9e6d6e02 100755
--- a/docker/bin/zookeeperLive.sh
+++ b/docker/bin/zookeeperLive.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ set -ex
 
 source /conf/env.sh
 
-OK=$(echo ruok | nc 127.0.0.1 $CLIENT_PORT)
+OK=$(echo ruok | socat stdio tcp:localhost:$CLIENT_PORT)
 
 # Check to see if zookeeper service answers
 if [[ "$OK" == "imok" ]]; then
diff --git a/docker/bin/zookeeperMetrics.sh b/docker/bin/zookeeperMetrics.sh
index a5225ba8..bd0c875e 100755
--- a/docker/bin/zookeeperMetrics.sh
+++ b/docker/bin/zookeeperMetrics.sh
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@ set -ex
 
 source /conf/env.sh
 
-echo mntr | nc localhost $CLIENT_PORT >& 1
+echo mntr | socat stdio tcp:localhost:$CLIENT_PORT >& 1
diff --git a/docker/bin/zookeeperReady.sh b/docker/bin/zookeeperReady.sh
index e31469e6..e9583e5b 100755
--- a/docker/bin/zookeeperReady.sh
+++ b/docker/bin/zookeeperReady.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ MYID_FILE=$DATA_DIR/myid
 LOG4J_CONF=/conf/log4j-quiet.properties
 STATIC_CONFIG=/data/conf/zoo.cfg
 
-OK=$(echo ruok | nc 127.0.0.1 $CLIENT_PORT)
+OK=$(echo ruok | socat stdio tcp:localhost:$CLIENT_PORT)
 
 # Check to see if zookeeper service answers
 if [[ "$OK" == "imok" ]]; then
diff --git a/docker/bin/zookeeperTeardown.sh b/docker/bin/zookeeperTeardown.sh
index 85af30fb..da361b8d 100755
--- a/docker/bin/zookeeperTeardown.sh
+++ b/docker/bin/zookeeperTeardown.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ LOG4J_CONF=/conf/log4j-quiet.properties
 # Wait for client connections to drain. Kubernetes will wait until the confiugred
 # "terminationGracePeriodSeconds" before focibly killing the container
 for (( i = 0; i < 6; i++ )); do
-  CONN_COUNT=`echo cons | nc localhost 2181 | grep -v "^$" |grep -v "/127.0.0.1:" | wc -l`
+  CONN_COUNT=`echo cons | socat stdio tcp:localhost:$CLIENT_PORT | grep -v "^$" |grep -v "/127.0.0.1:" | wc -l`
   if [[ "$CONN_COUNT" -gt 0 ]]; then
     echo "$CONN_COUNT non-local connections still connected."
     sleep 5