diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4f6cec9..ec641ba 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ GINKGO ?= $(LOCALBIN)/ginkgo
 ## Tool Versions
 KUSTOMIZE_VERSION ?= v3.8.7
 CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION ?= v0.11.1
+GOTOOLCHAIN_VERSION ?= go1.21.0
 
 KUSTOMIZE_INSTALL_SCRIPT ?= "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/master/hack/install_kustomize.sh"
 .PHONY: kustomize
@@ -346,7 +347,7 @@ golint: get-ci-tools
 
 .PHONY: gowork
 gowork: ## Generate go.work file to support our multi module repository
-	test -f go.work || go work init
+	test -f go.work || GOTOOLCHAIN=$(GOTOOLCHAIN_VERSION) go work init
 	go work use .
 	go work use ./api
 	go work sync