diff --git a/.golangci.yml b/.golangci.yml
index 9bf79536c81f..2a249a67b565 100644
--- a/.golangci.yml
+++ b/.golangci.yml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ linters:
     - gofmt         # Checks whether code was gofmt-ed
     - goheader      # Checks is file headers matche a given pattern
     - intrange      # Checking for loops that could use an integer range
+    - perfsprint    # Checks for faster fmt.Sprintf alternatives
     - revive        # Stricter drop-in replacement for golint
     - testifylint   # Checks usage of github.com/stretchr/testify
     - unconvert     # Checks for unnecessary type conversions
diff --git a/cmd/airgap/listimages.go b/cmd/airgap/listimages.go
index e28c60e3853c..1291de8a22e7 100644
--- a/cmd/airgap/listimages.go
+++ b/cmd/airgap/listimages.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package airgap
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/airgap"
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ func NewAirgapListImagesCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			if opts.EnableDynamicConfig {
-				return fmt.Errorf("dynamic config is not supported for airgap list-images")
+				return errors.New("dynamic config is not supported for airgap list-images")
 			}
 
 			clusterConfig, err := opts.K0sVars.NodeConfig()
diff --git a/cmd/api/api.go b/cmd/api/api.go
index 303a9ccd5256..d4e079e1cf8e 100644
--- a/cmd/api/api.go
+++ b/cmd/api/api.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"crypto/tls"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ func (c *command) isValidToken(ctx context.Context, token string, usage string)
 		return false
 	}
 
-	secretName := fmt.Sprintf("bootstrap-token-%s", parts[0])
+	secretName := "bootstrap-token-" + parts[0]
 	secret, err := c.client.CoreV1().Secrets("kube-system").Get(ctx, secretName, metav1.GetOptions{})
 	if err != nil {
 		logrus.Errorf("failed to get bootstrap token: %s", err.Error())
@@ -241,10 +242,12 @@ func (c *command) isValidToken(ctx context.Context, token string, usage string)
 }
 
 func (c *command) authMiddleware(next http.Handler, usage string) http.Handler {
+	unauthorizedErr := errors.New("go away")
+
 	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		auth := r.Header.Get("Authorization")
 		if auth == "" {
-			sendError(fmt.Errorf("go away"), w, http.StatusUnauthorized)
+			sendError(unauthorizedErr, w, http.StatusUnauthorized)
 			return
 		}
 
@@ -252,11 +255,11 @@ func (c *command) authMiddleware(next http.Handler, usage string) http.Handler {
 		if len(parts) == 2 {
 			token := parts[1]
 			if !c.isValidToken(r.Context(), token, usage) {
-				sendError(fmt.Errorf("go away"), w, http.StatusUnauthorized)
+				sendError(unauthorizedErr, w, http.StatusUnauthorized)
 				return
 			}
 		} else {
-			sendError(fmt.Errorf("go away"), w, http.StatusUnauthorized)
+			sendError(unauthorizedErr, w, http.StatusUnauthorized)
 			return
 		}
 
diff --git a/cmd/backup/backup_unix.go b/cmd/backup/backup_unix.go
index c0447a701166..1db3fef39df5 100644
--- a/cmd/backup/backup_unix.go
+++ b/cmd/backup/backup_unix.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package backup
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ func NewBackupCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			if nodeConfig.Spec.Storage.Etcd.IsExternalClusterUsed() {
-				return fmt.Errorf("command 'k0s backup' does not support external etcd cluster")
+				return errors.New("command 'k0s backup' does not support external etcd cluster")
 			}
 			return c.backup(savePath, cmd.OutOrStdout())
 		},
diff --git a/cmd/controller/certificates.go b/cmd/controller/certificates.go
index 84fe17be4717..5eb4cb4c7d61 100644
--- a/cmd/controller/certificates.go
+++ b/cmd/controller/certificates.go
@@ -20,16 +20,18 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
+
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/internal/pkg/file"
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/internal/pkg/users"
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1"
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/certificate"
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/constant"
-	"net"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"strconv"
 
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd"
 	clientcmdapi "k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd/api"
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ func (c *Certificates) Init(ctx context.Context) error {
 	c.CACert = string(cert)
 	// Changing the URL here also requires changes in the "k0s kubeconfig admin" subcommand.
 	apiAddress := net.JoinHostPort(c.ClusterSpec.API.Address, strconv.Itoa(c.ClusterSpec.API.Port))
-	kubeConfigAPIUrl := fmt.Sprintf("https://%s", apiAddress)
+	kubeConfigAPIUrl := (&url.URL{Scheme: "https", Host: apiAddress}).String()
 
 	apiServerUID, err := users.LookupUID(constant.ApiserverUser)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -197,7 +199,7 @@ func (c *Certificates) Init(ctx context.Context) error {
 		"kubernetes.default",
 		"kubernetes.default.svc",
 		"kubernetes.default.svc.cluster",
-		fmt.Sprintf("kubernetes.svc.%s", c.ClusterSpec.Network.ClusterDomain),
+		"kubernetes.svc." + c.ClusterSpec.Network.ClusterDomain,
 		"localhost",
 		"127.0.0.1",
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/controller/controller.go b/cmd/controller/controller.go
index 84594f1b367f..96d8d5863053 100644
--- a/cmd/controller/controller.go
+++ b/cmd/controller/controller.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
+	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"slices"
 	"syscall"
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/token"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/fields"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/rest"
 )
 
@@ -94,7 +96,7 @@ func NewControllerCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				c.TokenArg = args[0]
 			}
 			if c.TokenArg != "" && c.TokenFile != "" {
-				return fmt.Errorf("you can only pass one token argument either as a CLI argument 'k0s controller [join-token]' or as a flag 'k0s controller --token-file [path]'")
+				return errors.New("you can only pass one token argument either as a CLI argument 'k0s controller [join-token]' or as a flag 'k0s controller --token-file [path]'")
 			}
 			if err := c.ControllerOptions.Normalize(); err != nil {
 				return err
@@ -659,9 +661,11 @@ func (c *command) startWorker(ctx context.Context, profile string, nodeConfig *v
 	wc := workercmd.Command(*(*config.CLIOptions)(c))
 	wc.TokenArg = bootstrapConfig
 	wc.WorkerProfile = profile
-	wc.Labels = append(wc.Labels, fmt.Sprintf("%s=control-plane", constant.K0SNodeRoleLabel))
+	wc.Labels = append(wc.Labels, fields.OneTermEqualSelector(constant.K0SNodeRoleLabel, "control-plane").String())
 	if !c.SingleNode && !c.NoTaints {
-		wc.Taints = append(wc.Taints, fmt.Sprintf("%s/master=:NoSchedule", constant.NodeRoleLabelNamespace))
+		key := path.Join(constant.NodeRoleLabelNamespace, "master")
+		taint := fields.OneTermEqualSelector(key, ":NoSchedule")
+		wc.Taints = append(wc.Taints, taint.String())
 	}
 	return wc.Start(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/etcd/etcd.go b/cmd/etcd/etcd.go
index cba0647c520d..7b14ae291216 100644
--- a/cmd/etcd/etcd.go
+++ b/cmd/etcd/etcd.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package etcd
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1"
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ func NewEtcdCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return fmt.Errorf("wrong storage type: %s", nodeConfig.Spec.Storage.Type)
 			}
 			if nodeConfig.Spec.Storage.Etcd.IsExternalClusterUsed() {
-				return fmt.Errorf("command 'k0s etcd' does not support external etcd cluster")
+				return errors.New("command 'k0s etcd' does not support external etcd cluster")
 			}
 			return nil
 		},
diff --git a/cmd/etcd/leave.go b/cmd/etcd/leave.go
index 45fea772232c..2985ee2adf8c 100644
--- a/cmd/etcd/leave.go
+++ b/cmd/etcd/leave.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"net/url"
+	"strconv"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/etcd"
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ func etcdLeaveCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			peerAddress := nodeConfig.Spec.Storage.Etcd.PeerAddress
 			if peerAddressArg == "" {
 				if peerAddress == "" {
-					return fmt.Errorf("can't leave etcd cluster: this node doesn't have an etcd peer address, check the k0s configuration or use --peer-address")
+					return errors.New("can't leave etcd cluster: this node doesn't have an etcd peer address, check the k0s configuration or use --peer-address")
 				}
 			} else {
 				peerAddress = peerAddressArg
@@ -73,13 +74,13 @@ func etcdLeaveCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			if err := etcdClient.DeleteMember(ctx, peerID); err != nil {
 				logrus.
 					WithField("peerURL", peerURL).
-					WithField("peerID", fmt.Sprintf("%x", peerID)).
+					WithField("peerID", strconv.FormatUint(peerID, 16)).
 					Errorf("Failed to delete node from cluster")
 				return err
 			}
 
 			logrus.
-				WithField("peerID", fmt.Sprintf("%x", peerID)).
+				WithField("peerID", strconv.FormatUint(peerID, 16)).
 				Info("Successfully deleted")
 			return nil
 		},
diff --git a/cmd/install/install.go b/cmd/install/install.go
index 5c96ca9b5e3e..b9310f2a82e6 100644
--- a/cmd/install/install.go
+++ b/cmd/install/install.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package install
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ func NewInstallCmd() *cobra.Command {
 //   - Sets up startup and logging for k0s.
 func (c *command) setup(role string, args []string, installFlags *installFlags) error {
 	if os.Geteuid() != 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("this command must be run as root")
+		return errors.New("this command must be run as root")
 	}
 
 	nodeConfig, err := c.K0sVars.NodeConfig()
diff --git a/cmd/kubectl/kubectl.go b/cmd/kubectl/kubectl.go
index d53fda6bc436..5fa636b5df66 100644
--- a/cmd/kubectl/kubectl.go
+++ b/cmd/kubectl/kubectl.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package kubectl
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ func handleKubectlPlugins(kubectlCmd *cobra.Command) {
 func fallbackToK0sKubeconfig(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
 	kubeconfigFlag := cmd.Flags().Lookup("kubeconfig")
 	if kubeconfigFlag == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("kubeconfig flag not found")
+		return errors.New("kubeconfig flag not found")
 	}
 
 	if kubeconfigFlag.Changed {
diff --git a/cmd/restore/restore_unix.go b/cmd/restore/restore_unix.go
index eb8f5ac3b4bb..08845f726534 100644
--- a/cmd/restore/restore_unix.go
+++ b/cmd/restore/restore_unix.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package restore
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ func NewRestoreCmd() *cobra.Command {
 
 func (c *command) restore(path string, out io.Writer) error {
 	if os.Geteuid() != 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("this command must be run as root")
+		return errors.New("this command must be run as root")
 	}
 
 	k0sStatus, _ := status.GetStatusInfo(c.K0sVars.StatusSocketPath)
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 573fef3b23c7..25e207d9abb0 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"runtime"
@@ -135,7 +134,7 @@ func newDocsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			case "man":
 				return doc.GenManTree(NewRootCmd(), &doc.GenManHeader{Title: "k0s", Section: "1"}, "./man")
 			}
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid format")
+			return errors.New("invalid format")
 		},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/start/start.go b/cmd/start/start.go
index c19d8b25d3f6..b07c5aca1bb9 100644
--- a/cmd/start/start.go
+++ b/cmd/start/start.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package start
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
+	"errors"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/install"
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func NewStartCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Short: "Start the k0s service configured on this host. Must be run as root (or with sudo)",
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			if os.Geteuid() != 0 {
-				return fmt.Errorf("this command must be run as root")
+				return errors.New("this command must be run as root")
 			}
 			svc, err := install.InstalledService()
 			if err != nil {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func NewStartCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 			status, _ := svc.Status()
 			if status == service.StatusRunning {
-				return fmt.Errorf("already running")
+				return errors.New("already running")
 			}
 			return svc.Start()
 		},
diff --git a/cmd/stop/stop.go b/cmd/stop/stop.go
index bcb00fc3e988..57c51ff09a24 100644
--- a/cmd/stop/stop.go
+++ b/cmd/stop/stop.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package stop
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
+	"errors"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/install"
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func NewStopCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Short: "Stop the k0s service configured on this host. Must be run as root (or with sudo)",
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			if os.Geteuid() != 0 {
-				return fmt.Errorf("this command must be run as root")
+				return errors.New("this command must be run as root")
 			}
 			svc, err := install.InstalledService()
 			if err != nil {
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func NewStopCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			if status == service.StatusStopped {
-				return fmt.Errorf("already stopped")
+				return errors.New("already stopped")
 			}
 			return svc.Stop()
 		},
diff --git a/cmd/token/preshared.go b/cmd/token/preshared.go
index 4e25a534be0f..de1e2329abb6 100644
--- a/cmd/token/preshared.go
+++ b/cmd/token/preshared.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package token
 import (
 	"bufio"
 	"bytes"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
@@ -55,10 +56,10 @@ func preSharedCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			if certPath == "" {
-				return fmt.Errorf("please, provide --cert argument")
+				return errors.New("please, provide --cert argument")
 			}
 			if joinURL == "" {
-				return fmt.Errorf("please, provide --url argument")
+				return errors.New("please, provide --url argument")
 			}
 
 			return nil
diff --git a/cmd/worker/worker.go b/cmd/worker/worker.go
index 778f8a11f9e9..2f9be2410ea3 100644
--- a/cmd/worker/worker.go
+++ b/cmd/worker/worker.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func NewWorkerCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			if c.TokenArg != "" && c.TokenFile != "" {
-				return fmt.Errorf("you can only pass one token argument either as a CLI argument 'k0s worker [token]' or as a flag 'k0s worker --token-file [path]'")
+				return errors.New("you can only pass one token argument either as a CLI argument 'k0s worker [token]' or as a flag 'k0s worker --token-file [path]'")
 			}
 
 			if err := (&sysinfo.K0sSysinfoSpec{
diff --git a/hack/tool/cmd/aws/provision/provision.go b/hack/tool/cmd/aws/provision/provision.go
index 4eb55fadd319..5a9f1b51e424 100644
--- a/hack/tool/cmd/aws/provision/provision.go
+++ b/hack/tool/cmd/aws/provision/provision.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package provision
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ func bugfixK0sctlNullImages(k0sctlConfigFile string) error {
 	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
 
 	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to post-process k0sctl.yaml")
+		return errors.New("failed to post-process k0sctl.yaml")
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/hack/tool/cmd/root.go b/hack/tool/cmd/root.go
index 0f2d3c60b799..329c397e1bbf 100644
--- a/hack/tool/cmd/root.go
+++ b/hack/tool/cmd/root.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
+	"errors"
 	"os"
 
 	"tool/cmd/aws"
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func newCommandRoot() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "tool",
 		Short: "tool is the tool",
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			return fmt.Errorf("insufficient arguments")
+			return errors.New("insufficient arguments")
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/hack/tool/pkg/terraform/terraform.go b/hack/tool/pkg/terraform/terraform.go
index 7b78c025b30a..d839bd15183e 100644
--- a/hack/tool/pkg/terraform/terraform.go
+++ b/hack/tool/pkg/terraform/terraform.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func Output(ctx context.Context, modulePath string) (map[string]tfexec.OutputMet
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to create 'terraform' instance: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	if err := tf.Init(ctx, tfexec.BackendConfig(fmt.Sprintf("path=%s", constant.TerraformStateFile))); err != nil {
+	if err := tf.Init(ctx, tfexec.BackendConfig("path="+constant.TerraformStateFile)); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to init terraform in '%s': %w", scriptDir, err)
 	}
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func execute[OT any](ctx context.Context, workDir string, handler Handler[OT], o
 	tf.SetStdout(os.Stdout)
 	tf.SetLogger(log.Default())
 
-	if err := tf.Init(ctx, tfexec.BackendConfig(fmt.Sprintf("path=%s", constant.TerraformStateFile))); err != nil {
+	if err := tf.Init(ctx, tfexec.BackendConfig("path="+constant.TerraformStateFile)); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to init terraform in '%s': %w", workDir, err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/http/filename.go b/internal/http/filename.go
index 562e17564153..0b60cbfd6868 100644
--- a/internal/http/filename.go
+++ b/internal/http/filename.go
@@ -105,17 +105,17 @@ func fileNameFromContentDisposition(contentDisposition string) (string, error) {
 		return sanitizeFileName(fileName)
 	}
 
-	return "", fmt.Errorf("no filename parameter")
+	return "", errors.New("no filename parameter")
 }
 
 func fileNameFromRequestPath(requestPath string) (string, error) {
 	if requestPath == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("request path is empty")
+		return "", errors.New("request path is empty")
 	}
 
 	fileName := path.Base(requestPath)
 	if fileName == "/" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("request path has no base")
+		return "", errors.New("request path has no base")
 	}
 
 	return sanitizeFileName(fileName)
diff --git a/internal/oci/download.go b/internal/oci/download.go
index 7a7be1fe0a72..e97933d0a233 100644
--- a/internal/oci/download.go
+++ b/internal/oci/download.go
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ func findArtifactDescriptor(all []ocispec.Descriptor, opts downloadOptions) (oci
 		}
 	}
 	if opts.artifactName == "" {
-		return ocispec.Descriptor{}, fmt.Errorf("no artifact descriptors found")
+		return ocispec.Descriptor{}, errors.New("no artifact descriptors found")
 	}
 	return ocispec.Descriptor{}, fmt.Errorf("artifact %q not found", opts.artifactName)
 }
diff --git a/internal/oci/download_test.go b/internal/oci/download_test.go
index b860e5e104e2..673adb9f9b08 100644
--- a/internal/oci/download_test.go
+++ b/internal/oci/download_test.go
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func TestDownload(t *testing.T) {
 				opts = append(opts, oci.WithDockerAuth(
 					oci.DockerConfig{
 						Auths: map[string]oci.DockerConfigEntry{
-							addr: entry,
+							addr.Host: entry,
 						},
 					},
 				))
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestDownload(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			buf := bytes.NewBuffer(nil)
-			url := fmt.Sprintf("%s/repository/artifact:latest", addr)
+			url := path.Join(addr.Host, "repository", "artifact:latest")
 			err := oci.Download(context.TODO(), url, buf, opts...)
 			if tt.Expected != "" {
 				require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ func TestDownload(t *testing.T) {
 // startOCIMockServer starts a mock server that will respond to the given test.
 // this mimics the behavior of the real OCI registry. This function returns the
 // address of the server.
-func startOCIMockServer(t *testing.T, tname string, test testFile) string {
-	var serverAddr string
+func startOCIMockServer(t *testing.T, tname string, test testFile) url.URL {
+	var serverURL *url.URL
 
 	starter := httptest.NewTLSServer
 	if test.PlainHTTP {
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func startOCIMockServer(t *testing.T, tname string, test testFile) string {
 					proto = "http"
 				}
 
-				header := fmt.Sprintf(`Bearer realm="%s://%s/token"`, proto, serverAddr)
+				header := fmt.Sprintf(`Bearer realm="%s://%s/token"`, proto, serverURL.Host)
 				w.Header().Add("WWW-Authenticate", header)
 				w.WriteHeader(http.StatusUnauthorized)
 				return
@@ -195,8 +195,7 @@ func startOCIMockServer(t *testing.T, tname string, test testFile) string {
 	)
 	t.Cleanup(server.Close)
 
-	u, err := url.Parse(server.URL)
+	serverURL, err := url.Parse(server.URL)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	serverAddr = u.Host
-	return serverAddr
+	return *serverURL
 }
diff --git a/internal/pkg/net/hostport.go b/internal/pkg/net/hostport.go
index 2606a7f0d494..4cf22750b9eb 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/net/hostport.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/net/hostport.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func (h *HostPort) Port() uint16 { return h.port }
 
 func NewHostPort(host string, port uint16) (*HostPort, error) {
 	if !govalidator.IsIP(host) && !govalidator.IsDNSName(host) {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("host is neither an IP address nor a DNS name")
+		return nil, errors.New("host is neither an IP address nor a DNS name")
 	}
 
 	if port == 0 {
diff --git a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/disk.go b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/disk.go
index 1986dbab6daf..4a654528b027 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/disk.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/disk.go
@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 package probes
 
-import (
-	"fmt"
-)
-
 // AssertDiskSpace asserts a minimum amount of free disk space.
 func AssertFreeDiskSpace(parent ParentProbe, fsPath string, minFree uint64) {
 	parent.Set("disk:"+fsPath, func(path ProbePath, current Probe) Probe {
@@ -44,9 +40,9 @@ type assertDiskSpace struct {
 func (a *assertDiskSpace) desc() ProbeDesc {
 	var description string
 	if a.isRelative {
-		description = fmt.Sprintf("Relative disk space available for %s", a.fsPath)
+		description = "Relative disk space available for " + a.fsPath
 	} else {
-		description = fmt.Sprintf("Disk space available for %s", a.fsPath)
+		description = "Disk space available for " + a.fsPath
 	}
 	return NewProbeDesc(description, a.path)
 }
diff --git a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/executables.go b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/executables.go
index a3a72777cf0d..204fb24ca0c5 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/executables.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/executables.go
@@ -17,14 +17,13 @@ limitations under the License.
 package probes
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"os/exec"
 )
 
 func AssertExecutableInPath(p Probes, executable string) {
-	p.Set(fmt.Sprintf("executableInPath:%s", executable), func(path ProbePath, _ Probe) Probe {
+	p.Set("executableInPath:"+executable, func(path ProbePath, _ Probe) Probe {
 		return ProbeFn(func(r Reporter) error {
-			desc := NewProbeDesc(fmt.Sprintf("Executable in PATH: %s", executable), path)
+			desc := NewProbeDesc("Executable in PATH: "+executable, path)
 			path, err := exec.LookPath(executable)
 			if err != nil {
 				return r.Warn(desc, ErrorProp(err), "")
diff --git a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/filesystem.go b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/filesystem.go
index 9c7d0ac7aa16..5c5d101aafde 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/filesystem.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/filesystem.go
@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 package probes
 
-import (
-	"fmt"
-)
-
 // AssertFileSystem asserts a minimum amount of free disk space.
 func AssertFileSystem(parent ParentProbe, fsPath string) {
 	parent.Set("filesystem:"+fsPath, func(path ProbePath, current Probe) Probe {
@@ -33,5 +29,5 @@ type assertFileSystem struct {
 }
 
 func (a *assertFileSystem) desc() ProbeDesc {
-	return NewProbeDesc(fmt.Sprintf("File system of %s", a.fsPath), a.path)
+	return NewProbeDesc("File system of "+a.fsPath, a.path)
 }
diff --git a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/cgroup_v2.go b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/cgroup_v2.go
index 2b14eda45c5b..ce0b88ec9627 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/cgroup_v2.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/cgroup_v2.go
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func (g *cgroupV2) detectDevicesController() (cgroupControllerAvailable, error)
 	case errors.Is(err, os.ErrPermission) && os.Geteuid() != 0:
 		return cgroupControllerAvailable{true, "unknown", "insufficient permissions, try with elevated permissions"}, nil
 	case errors.Is(err, unix.EROFS):
-		return cgroupControllerAvailable{true, "unknown", fmt.Sprintf("read-only file system: %s", g.mountPoint)}, nil
+		return cgroupControllerAvailable{true, "unknown", "read-only file system: " + g.mountPoint}, nil
 
 	case eBPFProgramUnsupported(err):
 		return cgroupControllerAvailable{false, err.Error(), ""}, nil
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ func (g *cgroupV2) detectFreezerController() (cgroupControllerAvailable, error)
 				return cgroupControllerAvailable{true, "unknown", "insufficient permissions, try with elevated permissions"}, nil
 			}
 			if errors.Is(err, unix.EROFS) && os.Geteuid() != 0 {
-				return cgroupControllerAvailable{true, "unknown", fmt.Sprintf("read-only file system: %s", g.mountPoint)}, nil
+				return cgroupControllerAvailable{true, "unknown", "read-only file system: " + g.mountPoint}, nil
 			}
 
 			return cgroupControllerAvailable{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to create temporary cgroup: %w", err)
diff --git a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/kernel.go b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/kernel.go
index d9f7271b3dcb..232c58b5f929 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/kernel.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/kernel.go
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func ensureKConfig(config string) kConfig {
 }
 
 func (c kConfig) String() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("CONFIG_%s", string(c))
+	return "CONFIG_" + string(c)
 }
 
 type kConfigProbe struct {
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func (k *kConfigProbe) probe(reporter probes.Reporter, option kConfigOption) err
 
 	msg := ""
 	if len(k.alternativeKConfigs) > 0 {
-		msg = fmt.Sprintf("also tried %s", strings.Join(alsoTried, ", "))
+		msg = "also tried " + strings.Join(alsoTried, ", ")
 	}
 
 	if k.require {
diff --git a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/procfs.go b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/procfs.go
index 74363bf11f02..a70267150289 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/procfs.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/linux/procfs.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func (l *LinuxProbes) RequireProcFS() {
 	l.Set("procfs", func(path probes.ProbePath, _ probes.Probe) probes.Probe {
 		return probes.ProbeFn(func(r probes.Reporter) error {
 			mountPoint := "/proc"
-			desc := probes.NewProbeDesc(fmt.Sprintf("%s file system", mountPoint), path)
+			desc := probes.NewProbeDesc(mountPoint+" file system", path)
 
 			var st syscall.Statfs_t
 			if err := syscall.Statfs(mountPoint, &st); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/network.go b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/network.go
index 74d851a47044..76122c02294e 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/network.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/sysinfo/probes/network.go
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 func RequireNameResolution(p Probes, lookupIP func(host string) ([]net.IP, error), host string) {
-	p.Set(fmt.Sprintf("nameResolution:%s", host), func(path ProbePath, _ Probe) Probe {
+	p.Set("nameResolution:"+host, func(path ProbePath, _ Probe) Probe {
 		return ProbeFn(func(r Reporter) error {
-			desc := NewProbeDesc(fmt.Sprintf("Name resolution: %s", host), path)
+			desc := NewProbeDesc("Name resolution: "+host, path)
 			ips, err := lookupIP(host)
 			if err != nil {
 				return r.Error(desc, err)
diff --git a/inttest/addons/addons_test.go b/inttest/addons/addons_test.go
index a74f96d9c411..0b1468d0b993 100644
--- a/inttest/addons/addons_test.go
+++ b/inttest/addons/addons_test.go
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func (as *AddonsSuite) deleteRelease(chart *helmv1beta1.Chart) {
 	as.Require().NoError(wait.PollUntilContextCancel(ctx, 1*time.Second, true, func(pollCtx context.Context) (done bool, err error) {
 		as.T().Logf("Expecting have no secrets left for release %s/%s", chart.Status.Namespace, chart.Status.ReleaseName)
 		items, err := k8sclient.CoreV1().Secrets(chart.Status.Namespace).List(pollCtx, metav1.ListOptions{
-			LabelSelector: fmt.Sprintf("name=%s", chart.Status.ReleaseName),
+			LabelSelector: "name=" + chart.Status.ReleaseName,
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			if ctxErr := context.Cause(ctx); ctxErr != nil {
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ func (as *AddonsSuite) waitForTestRelease(addonName, appVersion string, namespac
 	as.Require().NoError(wait.PollUntilContextCancel(ctx, 1*time.Second, true, func(pollCtx context.Context) (done bool, err error) {
 		err = chartClient.Get(pollCtx, client.ObjectKey{
 			Namespace: "kube-system",
-			Name:      fmt.Sprintf("k0s-addon-chart-%s", addonName),
+			Name:      "k0s-addon-chart-" + addonName,
 		}, &chart)
 		if err != nil {
 			if ctxErr := context.Cause(ctx); ctxErr != nil {
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ func (as *AddonsSuite) checkCustomValues(releaseName string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	return wait.PollUntilContextCancel(ctx, 1*time.Second, true, func(pollCtx context.Context) (done bool, err error) {
-		serverDeployment := fmt.Sprintf("%s-echo-server", releaseName)
+		serverDeployment := releaseName + "-echo-server"
 		d, err := kc.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Get(pollCtx, serverDeployment, metav1.GetOptions{})
 		if err != nil {
 			if ctxErr := context.Cause(ctx); ctxErr != nil {
diff --git a/inttest/ap-updater-periodic/updater_test.go b/inttest/ap-updater-periodic/updater_test.go
index 65888a24b0cb..cfb5a57aebfd 100644
--- a/inttest/ap-updater-periodic/updater_test.go
+++ b/inttest/ap-updater-periodic/updater_test.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ package updater
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ func (s *plansSingleControllerSuite) SetupTest() {
 	vars := struct {
 		Address string
 	}{
-		Address: fmt.Sprintf("http://%s", s.GetUpdateServerIPAddress()),
+		Address: (&url.URL{Scheme: "http", Host: s.GetUpdateServerIPAddress()}).String(),
 	}
 	s.PutFileTemplate(s.ControllerNode(0), "/etc/conf.d/k0scontroller", envTemplate, vars)
 
diff --git a/inttest/basic/basic_test.go b/inttest/basic/basic_test.go
index bf248261e934..ce945026c405 100644
--- a/inttest/basic/basic_test.go
+++ b/inttest/basic/basic_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package basic
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -58,12 +59,12 @@ func (s *BasicSuite) TestK0sGetsUp() {
 	defer ssh.Disconnect()
 	_, err = ssh.ExecWithOutput(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("mkdir -p %s/bin && touch -t 202201010000 %s/bin/kube-apiserver", customDataDir, customDataDir))
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
-	_, err = ssh.ExecWithOutput(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("touch -t 202201010000 %s", s.K0sFullPath))
+	_, err = ssh.ExecWithOutput(ctx, "touch -t 202201010000 "+s.K0sFullPath)
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 	_, err = ssh.ExecWithOutput(ctx, "mkdir -p /run/k0s/konnectivity-server/ && touch -t 202201010000 /run/k0s/konnectivity-server/konnectivity-server.sock")
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 
-	dataDirOpt := fmt.Sprintf("--data-dir=%s", customDataDir)
+	dataDirOpt := "--data-dir=" + customDataDir
 	s.Require().NoError(s.InitController(0, dataDirOpt))
 
 	token, err := s.GetJoinToken("worker", dataDirOpt)
@@ -165,7 +166,7 @@ func (s *BasicSuite) verifyKubeletAddressFlag(ctx context.Context, node string)
 		return err
 	}
 	if output != "--address=0.0.0.0" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("kubelet does not have the address flag set")
+		return errors.New("kubelet does not have the address flag set")
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/inttest/byocri/byocri_test.go b/inttest/byocri/byocri_test.go
index 481162e684d7..5ad94768ba03 100644
--- a/inttest/byocri/byocri_test.go
+++ b/inttest/byocri/byocri_test.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package byocri
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ func (s *BYOCRISuite) runDockerWorker() error {
 		return err
 	}
 	if token == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("got empty token for worker join")
+		return errors.New("got empty token for worker join")
 	}
 	sshWorker, err := s.SSH(s.Context(), s.WorkerNode(0))
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/inttest/calico/calico_test.go b/inttest/calico/calico_test.go
index 1112cc6565ce..a663792b409a 100644
--- a/inttest/calico/calico_test.go
+++ b/inttest/calico/calico_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package calico
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ func (s *CalicoSuite) TestK0sGetsUp() {
 	s.NoError(common.WaitForPod(s.Context(), kc, "alpine", "default"), "alpine pod did not start")
 
 	err = wait.PollImmediateWithContext(s.Context(), 100*time.Millisecond, time.Minute, func(ctx context.Context) (done bool, err error) {
-		out, err := common.PodExecCmdOutput(kc, restConfig, sourcePod.Name, sourcePod.Namespace, fmt.Sprintf("/usr/bin/wget -qO- %s", targetPod.Status.PodIP))
+		out, err := common.PodExecCmdOutput(kc, restConfig, sourcePod.Name, sourcePod.Namespace, "/usr/bin/wget -qO- "+targetPod.Status.PodIP)
 		if err != nil {
 			return false, err
 		}
diff --git a/inttest/cli/cli_test.go b/inttest/cli/cli_test.go
index 1d07d5e44e8f..adc431bafe0d 100644
--- a/inttest/cli/cli_test.go
+++ b/inttest/cli/cli_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package cli
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
-	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ func (s *CliSuite) TestK0sCliKubectlAndResetCommand() {
 	defer ssh.Disconnect()
 
 	s.Run("sysinfoSmoketest", func() {
-		out, err := ssh.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("%s sysinfo", s.K0sFullPath))
+		out, err := ssh.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), s.K0sFullPath+" sysinfo")
 		s.NoError(err, "k0s sysinfo has non-zero exit code")
 		s.T().Logf("%s", out)
 		s.Regexp("\nOperating system: Linux \\(pass\\)\n", out)
diff --git a/inttest/common/bootloosesuite.go b/inttest/common/bootloosesuite.go
index fc7b1afcf48c..cfa5132a273d 100644
--- a/inttest/common/bootloosesuite.go
+++ b/inttest/common/bootloosesuite.go
@@ -432,8 +432,8 @@ func (s *BootlooseSuite) dumpNodeLogs(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node, d
 	}
 	defer ssh.Disconnect()
 
-	outPath := filepath.Join(dir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.out.log", node))
-	errPath := filepath.Join(dir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.err.log", node))
+	outPath := filepath.Join(dir, node+".out.log")
+	errPath := filepath.Join(dir, node+".err.log")
 
 	err = func() (err error) {
 		type log struct {
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ func (s *BootlooseSuite) ImportK0smotronImages(ctx context.Context) error {
 		}
 		defer sshWorker.Disconnect()
 
-		_, err = sshWorker.ExecWithOutput(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("k0s ctr images import %s", s.K0smotronImageBundleMountPoints[0]))
+		_, err = sshWorker.ExecWithOutput(ctx, "k0s ctr images import "+s.K0smotronImageBundleMountPoints[0])
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to import k0smotron images: %w", err)
 		}
diff --git a/inttest/common/filetools.go b/inttest/common/filetools.go
index ed32bdb64085..2c473f10879d 100644
--- a/inttest/common/filetools.go
+++ b/inttest/common/filetools.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func (s *BootlooseSuite) GetFileFromController(controllerIdx int, path string) s
 	sshCon, err := s.SSH(s.Context(), s.ControllerNode(controllerIdx))
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 	defer sshCon.Disconnect()
-	content, err := sshCon.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("cat %s", path))
+	content, err := sshCon.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), "cat "+path)
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 
 	return content
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func (s *BootlooseSuite) WriteFile(node, path string, reader io.Reader) {
 	ssh, err := s.SSH(s.Context(), node)
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 	defer ssh.Disconnect()
-	s.Require().NoError(ssh.Exec(s.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("cat >%s", path), SSHStreams{In: reader}))
+	s.Require().NoError(ssh.Exec(s.Context(), "cat >"+path, SSHStreams{In: reader}))
 }
 
 // WriteFileContent writes content to a file at the given path on the given
diff --git a/inttest/common/launchdelegate.go b/inttest/common/launchdelegate.go
index f148d58dd97b..e1cd071aad05 100644
--- a/inttest/common/launchdelegate.go
+++ b/inttest/common/launchdelegate.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func (s *standaloneLaunchDelegate) StopController(ctx context.Context, conn *SSH
 // executable is launched directly (vs. started via a service manager).
 func (s *standaloneLaunchDelegate) InitWorker(ctx context.Context, conn *SSHConnection, token string, k0sArgs ...string) error {
 	if token == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("got empty token for worker join")
+		return errors.New("got empty token for worker join")
 	}
 
 	var script strings.Builder
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func (o *openRCLaunchDelegate) InitController(ctx context.Context, conn *SSHConn
 	}
 
 	// Configure k0s as a controller w/args
-	controllerArgs := fmt.Sprintf("controller --debug %s", strings.Join(k0sArgs, " "))
+	controllerArgs := "controller --debug " + strings.Join(k0sArgs, " ")
 	if err := configureK0sServiceArgs(ctx, conn, "controller", controllerArgs); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to configure k0s with '%s'", controllerArgs)
 	}
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ func (*openRCLaunchDelegate) ReadK0sLogs(ctx context.Context, conn *SSHConnectio
 // installK0sServiceOpenRC will install an OpenRC k0s-type service (controller/worker)
 // if it does not already exist.
 func (o *openRCLaunchDelegate) installK0sService(ctx context.Context, conn *SSHConnection, k0sType string) error {
-	existsCommand := fmt.Sprintf("/usr/bin/file /etc/init.d/k0s%s", k0sType)
+	existsCommand := "/usr/bin/file /etc/init.d/k0s" + k0sType
 	if _, err := conn.ExecWithOutput(ctx, existsCommand); err != nil {
 		cmd := fmt.Sprintf("%s install %s", o.k0sFullPath, k0sType)
 		if err := conn.Exec(ctx, cmd, SSHStreams{}); err != nil {
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ func (o *openRCLaunchDelegate) installK0sService(ctx context.Context, conn *SSHC
 // `/etc/init.d/k0s[controller|worker]` startup script to allow for different
 // configurations at test time, using the same base image.
 func configureK0sServiceArgs(ctx context.Context, conn *SSHConnection, k0sType string, args string) error {
-	k0sServiceFile := fmt.Sprintf("/etc/init.d/k0s%s", k0sType)
+	k0sServiceFile := "/etc/init.d/k0s" + k0sType
 	cmd := fmt.Sprintf("sed -i 's#^command_args=.*$#command_args=\"%s\"#g' %s", args, k0sServiceFile)
 
 	_, err := conn.ExecWithOutput(ctx, cmd)
diff --git a/inttest/common/util.go b/inttest/common/util.go
index d8b367908ea9..19c63672fe9a 100644
--- a/inttest/common/util.go
+++ b/inttest/common/util.go
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ func ResetNode(name string, suite *BootlooseSuite) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	defer ssh.Disconnect()
-	_, err = ssh.ExecWithOutput(suite.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("%s reset --debug", suite.K0sFullPath))
+	_, err = ssh.ExecWithOutput(suite.Context(), suite.K0sFullPath+" reset --debug")
 	return err
 }
 
diff --git a/inttest/configchange/config_test.go b/inttest/configchange/config_test.go
index 58a6cf30c4a4..68adc52db63e 100644
--- a/inttest/configchange/config_test.go
+++ b/inttest/configchange/config_test.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package configchange
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ func (s *ConfigSuite) waitForReconcileEvent(eventWatch watch.Interface) (*corev1
 		event := e.Object.(*corev1.Event)
 		return event, nil
 	case <-timeout:
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("timeout waiting for reconcile event")
+		return nil, errors.New("timeout waiting for reconcile event")
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/inttest/ctr/ctr_test.go b/inttest/ctr/ctr_test.go
index 7da70a609e74..b982945222d5 100644
--- a/inttest/ctr/ctr_test.go
+++ b/inttest/ctr/ctr_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 package ctr
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ func (s *CtrSuite) TestK0sCtrCommand() {
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 
 	flatOutput := removeRedundantSpaces(output)
-	errMsg := fmt.Sprintf("returned output of command 'k0s ctr namespaces list' is different than expected: %s", output)
+	errMsg := "returned output of command 'k0s ctr namespaces list' is different than expected: " + output
 	s.Equal("NAME LABELS k8s.io", flatOutput, errMsg)
 
 	output, err = ssh.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), "/usr/local/bin/k0s ctr version")
diff --git a/inttest/disabledcomponents/disabled_components_test.go b/inttest/disabledcomponents/disabled_components_test.go
index 8cc2562c3158..41c2a7d310f5 100644
--- a/inttest/disabledcomponents/disabled_components_test.go
+++ b/inttest/disabledcomponents/disabled_components_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 package disabledcomponents
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/suite"
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ func (s *DisabledComponentsSuite) TestK0sGetsUp() {
 }
 
 func (s *DisabledComponentsSuite) processExists(procName string, ssh *common.SSHConnection) bool {
-	_, err := ssh.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("pidof %s", procName))
+	_, err := ssh.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), "pidof "+procName)
 	return err == nil // `pidof xyz` return 1 if the process does not exist
 }
 
diff --git a/inttest/embedded-binaries/embedded_binaries_test.go b/inttest/embedded-binaries/embedded_binaries_test.go
index a0d498637a25..b69677c8dbc6 100644
--- a/inttest/embedded-binaries/embedded_binaries_test.go
+++ b/inttest/embedded-binaries/embedded_binaries_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package binaries
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
+	"path"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/inttest/common"
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func (s *EmbeddedBinariesSuite) TestK0sGetsUp() {
 
 		for _, tc := range testCases {
 			s.Run(tc.cmd, func() {
-				out, err := sshC0.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("/var/lib/k0s/bin/%s", tc.cmd))
+				out, err := sshC0.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), path.Join("/var/lib/k0s/bin", tc.cmd))
 				if tc.checkError {
 					s.Require().NoError(err, tc.cmd, out)
 				}
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func (s *EmbeddedBinariesSuite) TestK0sGetsUp() {
 
 		for _, tc := range testCases {
 			s.Run("", func() {
-				out, err := sshC1.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("/var/lib/k0s/bin/%s", tc.cmd))
+				out, err := sshC1.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), path.Join("/var/lib/k0s/bin", tc.cmd))
 				if tc.checkError {
 					s.Require().NoError(err, tc.cmd, out)
 				}
diff --git a/inttest/extraargs/extraargs_test.go b/inttest/extraargs/extraargs_test.go
index 7d2434df6a78..2f92ec84d952 100644
--- a/inttest/extraargs/extraargs_test.go
+++ b/inttest/extraargs/extraargs_test.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (s *ExtraArgsSuite) TestK0sGetsUp() {
 }
 func (s *ExtraArgsSuite) checkFlag(ssh *common.SSHConnection, processName string, flag string) {
 	s.T().Logf("Checking flag %s in process %s", flag, processName)
-	pid, err := ssh.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("/usr/bin/pgrep %s", processName))
+	pid, err := ssh.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), "/usr/bin/pgrep "+processName)
 	s.NoError(err)
 
 	flagCount, err := ssh.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("/bin/grep -c -- %s /proc/%s/cmdline", flag, pid))
diff --git a/inttest/hacontrolplane/hacontrolplane_test.go b/inttest/hacontrolplane/hacontrolplane_test.go
index 3930e438cf52..3adb6a3b11e6 100644
--- a/inttest/hacontrolplane/hacontrolplane_test.go
+++ b/inttest/hacontrolplane/hacontrolplane_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package hacontrolplane
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
-	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"net/url"
 	"testing"
@@ -55,7 +54,7 @@ func (s *HAControlplaneSuite) makeNodeLeave(executeOnControllerIdx int, peerAddr
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 	defer sshCon.Disconnect()
 	for range 20 {
-		_, err := sshCon.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("/usr/local/bin/k0s etcd leave --peer-address %s", peerAddress))
+		_, err := sshCon.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), "/usr/local/bin/k0s etcd leave --peer-address "+peerAddress)
 		if err == nil {
 			break
 		}
diff --git a/inttest/kubectl/kubectl_test.go b/inttest/kubectl/kubectl_test.go
index 2f3357270322..9a465b179d4b 100644
--- a/inttest/kubectl/kubectl_test.go
+++ b/inttest/kubectl/kubectl_test.go
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func (s *KubectlSuite) TestEmbeddedKubectl() {
 	}
 
 	execTest := func(t *testing.T, cmdline string, check checkFunc) {
-		cmdline = fmt.Sprintf("PATH=/inttest/bin:/inttest/symlink %s", cmdline)
+		cmdline = "PATH=/inttest/bin:/inttest/symlink " + cmdline
 		t.Log("Executing", cmdline)
 
 		var stdoutBuf bytes.Buffer
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ func checkClientVersion(t *testing.T, v map[string]any) {
 	)
 	assert.Contains(t,
 		requiredValue[string](t, v, "gitVersion"),
-		fmt.Sprintf("v%s", constant.KubernetesMajorMinorVersion),
+		"v"+constant.KubernetesMajorMinorVersion,
 	)
 	assert.Equal(t, "not_available", requiredValue[string](t, v, "gitCommit"))
 	assert.Empty(t, requiredValue[string](t, v, "gitTreeState"))
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ func checkServerVersion(t *testing.T, v map[string]any) {
 	)
 	assert.Contains(t,
 		requiredValue[string](t, v, "gitVersion"),
-		fmt.Sprintf("v%s", constant.KubernetesMajorMinorVersion),
+		"v"+constant.KubernetesMajorMinorVersion,
 	)
 	assert.Contains(t, requiredValue[string](t, v, "gitVersion"), "+k0s")
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, requiredValue[string](t, v, "gitCommit"))
diff --git a/inttest/nllb/nllb_test.go b/inttest/nllb/nllb_test.go
index 4af7edc2c748..3f48ffdfbc16 100644
--- a/inttest/nllb/nllb_test.go
+++ b/inttest/nllb/nllb_test.go
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ func (s *suite) checkClusterReadiness(ctx context.Context, clients *kubernetes.C
 
 			s.T().Logf("Node %s is ready", nodeName)
 
-			nllbPodName := fmt.Sprintf("nllb-%s", nodeName)
+			nllbPodName := "nllb-" + nodeName
 			if err := common.WaitForPod(ctx, clients, nllbPodName, kubeSystem); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("Pod %s/%s is not ready: %w", nllbPodName, kubeSystem, err)
 			}
diff --git a/inttest/psp/psp_test.go b/inttest/psp/psp_test.go
index 50baad753bf5..f230abbca904 100644
--- a/inttest/psp/psp_test.go
+++ b/inttest/psp/psp_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 package psp
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/inttest/common"
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ func (s *PSPSuite) TestK0sGetsUp() {
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 	defer ssh.Disconnect()
 
-	_, err = ssh.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), fmt.Sprintf("%s kubectl apply -f /tmp/role.yaml", s.K0sFullPath))
+	_, err = ssh.ExecWithOutput(s.Context(), s.K0sFullPath+" kubectl apply -f /tmp/role.yaml")
 	s.NoError(err)
 
 	nonPrivelegedPodReq := &corev1.Pod{
diff --git a/pkg/apis/helm/v1beta1/chart_types.go b/pkg/apis/helm/v1beta1/chart_types.go
index 6bb3c5e66fc4..9f41c9836de8 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/helm/v1beta1/chart_types.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/helm/v1beta1/chart_types.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ package v1beta1
 
 import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
-	"fmt"
+	"encoding/hex"
 
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (cs ChartSpec) YamlValues() map[string]interface{} {
 func (cs ChartSpec) HashValues() string {
 	h := sha256.New()
 	h.Write([]byte(cs.ReleaseName + cs.Values))
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%x", h.Sum(nil))
+	return hex.EncodeToString(h.Sum(nil))
 }
 
 // ShouldForceUpgrade returns true if the chart should be force upgraded
diff --git a/pkg/apis/helm/v1beta1/generic_hash.go b/pkg/apis/helm/v1beta1/generic_hash.go
index 622881185552..97cde93482c8 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/helm/v1beta1/generic_hash.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/helm/v1beta1/generic_hash.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func cleanUpInterfaceArray(in []interface{}) []interface{} {
 func cleanUpInterfaceMap(in map[string]interface{}) map[string]interface{} {
 	result := make(map[string]interface{})
 	for k, v := range in {
-		result[fmt.Sprintf("%v", k)] = cleanUpMapValue(v)
+		result[k] = cleanUpMapValue(v)
 	}
 	return result
 }
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func cleanUpMapValue(v interface{}) interface{} {
 func CleanUpGenericMap(in map[string]interface{}) map[string]interface{} {
 	result := make(map[string]interface{})
 	for k, v := range in {
-		result[fmt.Sprintf("%v", k)] = cleanUpMapValue(v)
+		result[k] = cleanUpMapValue(v)
 	}
 	return result
 }
diff --git a/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/controltypes.go b/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/controltypes.go
index 86468c3ce07c..df393c5708cd 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/controltypes.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/controltypes.go
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 package v1beta1
 
-import "fmt"
+import (
+	"errors"
+)
 
 // CaResponse defines the response type for /ca control API
 type CaResponse struct {
@@ -37,11 +39,11 @@ type EtcdRequest struct {
 // Validate validates the request
 func (e *EtcdRequest) Validate() error {
 	if e.Node == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("node cannot be empty")
+		return errors.New("node cannot be empty")
 	}
 
 	if e.PeerAddress == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("peerAddress cannot be empty")
+		return errors.New("peerAddress cannot be empty")
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/feature_gates.go b/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/feature_gates.go
index d37208392423..2f76f262ad11 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/feature_gates.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/feature_gates.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package v1beta1
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ func (fg *FeatureGate) EnabledFor(component string) (value bool, found bool) {
 // Validate given feature gate
 func (fg *FeatureGate) Validate() error {
 	if fg.Name == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("feature gate must have name")
+		return errors.New("feature gate must have name")
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/images_test.go b/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/images_test.go
index 3fbbb6acca25..ac60f4b65f91 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/images_test.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/images_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 package v1beta1
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/constant"
@@ -63,19 +62,19 @@ func TestImagesRepoOverrideInConfiguration(t *testing.T) {
 			cfg.Spec.Images.Repository = "my.repo"
 			var testingConfig *ClusterConfig
 			require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal(getConfigYAML(t, cfg), &testingConfig))
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/apiserver-network-proxy-agent:%s", constant.KonnectivityImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Konnectivity.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/metrics-server/metrics-server:%s", constant.MetricsImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.MetricsServer.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/kube-proxy:%s", constant.KubeProxyImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.KubeProxy.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/coredns:%s", constant.CoreDNSImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.CoreDNS.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/calico-cni:%s", constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.CNI.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/calico-node:%s", constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.Node.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/calico-kube-controllers:%s", constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.KubeControllers.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/calico-cni:%s", constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.CNI.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/calico-node:%s", constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.Node.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/calico-kube-controllers:%s", constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.KubeControllers.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/kube-router:%s", constant.KubeRouterCNIImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.KubeRouter.CNI.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/cni-node:%s", constant.KubeRouterCNIInstallerImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.KubeRouter.CNIInstaller.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/pause:%s", constant.KubePauseContainerImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Pause.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/apiserver-network-proxy-agent:"+constant.KonnectivityImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Konnectivity.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/metrics-server/metrics-server:"+constant.MetricsImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.MetricsServer.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/kube-proxy:"+constant.KubeProxyImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.KubeProxy.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/coredns:"+constant.CoreDNSImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.CoreDNS.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/calico-cni:"+constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.CNI.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/calico-node:"+constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.Node.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/calico-kube-controllers:"+constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.KubeControllers.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/calico-cni:"+constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.CNI.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/calico-node:"+constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.Node.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/calico-kube-controllers:"+constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.KubeControllers.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/kube-router:"+constant.KubeRouterCNIImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.KubeRouter.CNI.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/cni-node:"+constant.KubeRouterCNIInstallerImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.KubeRouter.CNIInstaller.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/pause:"+constant.KubePauseContainerImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Pause.URI())
 		})
 		t.Run("config_with_custom_images", func(t *testing.T) {
 			cfg := DefaultClusterConfig()
@@ -83,13 +82,13 @@ func TestImagesRepoOverrideInConfiguration(t *testing.T) {
 			cfg.Spec.Images.Repository = "my.repo"
 			var testingConfig *ClusterConfig
 			require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal(getConfigYAML(t, cfg), &testingConfig))
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/my-custom-image:%s", constant.KonnectivityImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Konnectivity.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/metrics-server/metrics-server:%s", constant.MetricsImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.MetricsServer.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/kube-proxy:%s", constant.KubeProxyImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.KubeProxy.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/coredns:%s", constant.CoreDNSImageVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.CoreDNS.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/calico-cni:%s", constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.CNI.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/calico-node:%s", constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.Node.URI())
-			require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("my.repo/k0sproject/calico-kube-controllers:%s", constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion), testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.KubeControllers.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/my-custom-image:"+constant.KonnectivityImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Konnectivity.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/metrics-server/metrics-server:"+constant.MetricsImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.MetricsServer.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/kube-proxy:"+constant.KubeProxyImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.KubeProxy.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/coredns:"+constant.CoreDNSImageVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.CoreDNS.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/calico-cni:"+constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.CNI.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/calico-node:"+constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.Node.URI())
+			require.Equal(t, "my.repo/k0sproject/calico-kube-controllers:"+constant.CalicoComponentImagesVersion, testingConfig.Spec.Images.Calico.KubeControllers.URI())
 		})
 	})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/storage.go b/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/storage.go
index 1018150bfb10..d52f7673799a 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/storage.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1/storage.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package v1beta1
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"net/url"
@@ -281,19 +282,19 @@ func (e *EtcdConfig) GetKeyFilePath(certDir string) string {
 }
 
 func validateRequiredProperties(e *ExternalCluster) []error {
-	var errors []error
+	var errs []error
 
 	if len(e.Endpoints) == 0 {
-		errors = append(errors, fmt.Errorf("spec.storage.etcd.externalCluster.endpoints cannot be null or empty"))
+		errs = append(errs, errors.New("spec.storage.etcd.externalCluster.endpoints cannot be null or empty"))
 	} else if slices.Contains(e.Endpoints, "") {
-		errors = append(errors, fmt.Errorf("spec.storage.etcd.externalCluster.endpoints cannot contain empty strings"))
+		errs = append(errs, errors.New("spec.storage.etcd.externalCluster.endpoints cannot contain empty strings"))
 	}
 
 	if e.EtcdPrefix == "" {
-		errors = append(errors, fmt.Errorf("spec.storage.etcd.externalCluster.etcdPrefix cannot be empty"))
+		errs = append(errs, errors.New("spec.storage.etcd.externalCluster.etcdPrefix cannot be empty"))
 	}
 
-	return errors
+	return errs
 }
 
 func validateOptionalTLSProperties(e *ExternalCluster) []error {
@@ -302,7 +303,7 @@ func validateOptionalTLSProperties(e *ExternalCluster) []error {
 	if noTLSPropertyDefined || e.hasAllTLSPropertiesDefined() {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return []error{fmt.Errorf("spec.storage.etcd.externalCluster is invalid: " +
+	return []error{errors.New("spec.storage.etcd.externalCluster is invalid: " +
 		"all TLS properties [caFile,clientCertFile,clientKeyFile] must be defined or none of those")}
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/applier/applier_test.go b/pkg/applier/applier_test.go
index f390ce02e52f..b7f1f95094ee 100644
--- a/pkg/applier/applier_test.go
+++ b/pkg/applier/applier_test.go
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ package applier_test
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ spec:
         ports:
           - containerPort: 80
 `
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(fmt.Sprintf("%s/test-ns.yaml", dir), []byte(templateNS), 0400))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(fmt.Sprintf("%s/test-list.yaml", dir), []byte(template), 0400))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(fmt.Sprintf("%s/test-deploy.yaml", dir), []byte(templateDeployment), 0400))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "test-ns.yaml"), []byte(templateNS), 0400))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "test-list.yaml"), []byte(template), 0400))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "test-deploy.yaml"), []byte(templateDeployment), 0400))
 
 	fakes := kubeutil.NewFakeClientFactory()
 	a := applier.NewApplier(dir, fakes)
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/channels/channelclient.go b/pkg/autopilot/channels/channelclient.go
index 59f6fa0464d6..7a381c86a819 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/channels/channelclient.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/channels/channelclient.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
-	"strings"
+	"net/url"
 	"time"
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/yaml"
@@ -36,19 +36,21 @@ func NewChannelClient(server string, channel string, token string) (*ChannelClie
 		Timeout: 10 * time.Second,
 	}
 
-	// If server is a full URL, use that. If not assume it's a hostname and use the default path
-	if strings.HasPrefix(server, "http") {
-		server = strings.TrimSuffix(server, "/")
-	} else {
-		server = fmt.Sprintf("https://%s", server)
+	// If server is a full URL, use that. If not, assume HTTPS.
+	serverURL, err := url.Parse(server)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if serverURL.Scheme == "" {
+		serverURL.Scheme = "https"
 	}
 
-	channelURL := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s/index.yaml", server, channel)
+	channelURL := serverURL.JoinPath(channel, "index.yaml")
 
 	return &ChannelClient{
 		httpClient: httpClient,
 		token:      token,
-		channelURL: channelURL,
+		channelURL: channelURL.String(),
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ func (c *ChannelClient) GetLatest(ctx context.Context, headers map[string]string
 	}
 
 	if c.token != "" {
-		req.Header.Add("Authorization", fmt.Sprintf("Bearer %s", c.token))
+		req.Header.Add("Authorization", "Bearer "+c.token)
 	}
 
 	resp, err := c.httpClient.Do(req)
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/leases_test.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/leases_test.go
index 16a337bd1312..09583a16f744 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/leases_test.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/leases_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ package controller
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ func TestLeasesInitialPending(t *testing.T) {
 	leaseWatcher, err := NewLeaseWatcher(logger, clientFactory)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
-	leaseEventStatusCh, errorCh := leaseWatcher.StartWatcher(ctx, constant.AutopilotNamespace, fmt.Sprintf("%s-lease", constant.AutopilotNamespace), t.Name())
+	leaseEventStatusCh, errorCh := leaseWatcher.StartWatcher(ctx, constant.AutopilotNamespace, constant.AutopilotNamespace+"-lease", t.Name())
 	assert.NotNil(t, errorCh)
 	assert.NotNil(t, leaseEventStatusCh)
 
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/initprovidershandler_test.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/initprovidershandler_test.go
index 2e01c952fdb2..116f5ab1b4aa 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/initprovidershandler_test.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/initprovidershandler_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ package core
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
+	"errors"
 	"testing"
 
 	apv1beta2 "github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/apis/autopilot/v1beta2"
@@ -80,10 +80,10 @@ func TestInitProvidersHandle(t *testing.T) {
 						return PlanSchedulableWait, false, nil
 					},
 					handlerSchedulable: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return PlanSchedulableWait, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached schedulable")
+						return PlanSchedulableWait, false, errors.New("should not have reached schedulable")
 					},
 					handlerSchedulableWait: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return PlanSchedulableWait, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached schedulablewait")
+						return PlanSchedulableWait, false, errors.New("should not have reached schedulablewait")
 					},
 				},
 			),
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ func TestInitProvidersHandle(t *testing.T) {
 			NewInitProvidersHandler(
 				logger,
 				func(ctx context.Context, provider PlanCommandProvider, planID string, cmd apv1beta2.PlanCommand, status *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-					return PlanSchedulableWait, false, fmt.Errorf("intentional error")
+					return PlanSchedulableWait, false, assert.AnError
 				},
 				PlanSchedulableWait,
 				fakePlanCommandProvider{
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/planstatecontroller_test.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/planstatecontroller_test.go
index 659bee23dff3..e2c13b223efd 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/planstatecontroller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/planstatecontroller_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ package core
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
 	apv1beta2 "github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/apis/autopilot/v1beta2"
@@ -69,7 +68,7 @@ func TestReconcile(t *testing.T) {
 			"HandlerError",
 			&fakePlanStateHandler{
 				func(ctx context.Context, plan *apv1beta2.Plan) (ProviderResult, error) {
-					return ProviderResultFailure, fmt.Errorf("intentional error")
+					return ProviderResultFailure, assert.AnError
 				},
 			},
 			&apv1beta2.Plan{
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/planstatehandler_test.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/planstatehandler_test.go
index 390f9df20612..08420ef2a8ff 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/planstatehandler_test.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/plans/core/planstatehandler_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ package core
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
+	"errors"
 	"testing"
 
 	apv1beta2 "github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/apis/autopilot/v1beta2"
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func TestHandle(t *testing.T) {
 				fakePlanCommandProvider{
 					commandID: "K0sUpdate",
 					handlerNewPlan: func(ctx context.Context, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return PlanSchedulableWait, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached newplan")
+						return PlanSchedulableWait, false, errors.New("should not have reached newplan")
 					},
 					handlerSchedulable: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
 						assert.Equal(t, "v1.2.3", pc.K0sUpdate.Version)
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func TestHandle(t *testing.T) {
 						return PlanCompleted, false, nil
 					},
 					handlerSchedulableWait: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return PlanSchedulableWait, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached schedulablewait")
+						return PlanSchedulableWait, false, errors.New("should not have reached schedulablewait")
 					},
 				},
 			),
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ func TestHandle(t *testing.T) {
 			NewPlanStateHandler(
 				logger,
 				func(ctx context.Context, provider PlanCommandProvider, planID string, cmd apv1beta2.PlanCommand, status *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-					return PlanSchedulableWait, false, fmt.Errorf("intentional error")
+					return PlanSchedulableWait, false, assert.AnError
 				},
 				fakePlanCommandProvider{
 					commandID: "K0sUpdate",
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ func TestHandle(t *testing.T) {
 				fakePlanCommandProvider{
 					commandID: "K0sUpdate",
 					handlerNewPlan: func(ctx context.Context, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return pcs.State, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached newplan")
+						return pcs.State, false, errors.New("should not have reached newplan")
 					},
 					handlerSchedulable: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
 						// Ensures that only the second command makes it here
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ func TestHandle(t *testing.T) {
 						return PlanCompleted, false, nil
 					},
 					handlerSchedulableWait: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return pcs.State, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached schedulablewait")
+						return pcs.State, false, errors.New("should not have reached schedulablewait")
 					},
 				},
 			),
@@ -313,14 +313,14 @@ func TestHandle(t *testing.T) {
 				fakePlanCommandProvider{
 					commandID: "K0sUpdate",
 					handlerNewPlan: func(ctx context.Context, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return pcs.State, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached newplan")
+						return pcs.State, false, errors.New("should not have reached newplan")
 					},
 					handlerSchedulable: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
 						pcs.K0sUpdate = &apv1beta2.PlanCommandK0sUpdateStatus{}
 						return PlanCompleted, false, nil
 					},
 					handlerSchedulableWait: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return pcs.State, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached schedulablewait")
+						return pcs.State, false, errors.New("should not have reached schedulablewait")
 					},
 				},
 			),
@@ -364,14 +364,14 @@ func TestHandle(t *testing.T) {
 				fakePlanCommandProvider{
 					commandID: "K0sUpdate",
 					handlerNewPlan: func(ctx context.Context, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return pcs.State, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached newplan")
+						return pcs.State, false, errors.New("should not have reached newplan")
 					},
 					handlerSchedulable: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
 						pcs.K0sUpdate = &apv1beta2.PlanCommandK0sUpdateStatus{}
 						return PlanCompleted, false, nil
 					},
 					handlerSchedulableWait: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return pcs.State, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached schedulablewait")
+						return pcs.State, false, errors.New("should not have reached schedulablewait")
 					},
 				},
 			),
@@ -420,14 +420,14 @@ func TestHandle(t *testing.T) {
 				fakePlanCommandProvider{
 					commandID: "K0sUpdate",
 					handlerNewPlan: func(ctx context.Context, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return pcs.State, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached newplan")
+						return pcs.State, false, errors.New("should not have reached newplan")
 					},
 					handlerSchedulable: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
 						pcs.K0sUpdate = &apv1beta2.PlanCommandK0sUpdateStatus{}
 						return pcs.State, true, nil
 					},
 					handlerSchedulableWait: func(ctx context.Context, planID string, pc apv1beta2.PlanCommand, pcs *apv1beta2.PlanCommandStatus) (apv1beta2.PlanStateType, bool, error) {
-						return pcs.State, false, fmt.Errorf("should not have reached schedulablewait")
+						return pcs.State, false, errors.New("should not have reached schedulablewait")
 					},
 				},
 			),
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/root_controller.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/root_controller.go
index d0cfa167e9f7..41db827c6eb7 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/root_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/root_controller.go
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func (c *rootController) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to setup lease watcher: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	leaseName := fmt.Sprintf("%s-controller", apconst.AutopilotNamespace)
+	leaseName := apconst.AutopilotNamespace + "-controller"
 	leaseIdentity := c.cfg.InvocationID
 
 	leaseEventStatusCh, errorCh := leaseWatcher.StartWatcher(ctx, apconst.AutopilotNamespace, leaseName, leaseIdentity)
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/setup.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/setup.go
index 93e1d0a90a8f..d39075e0fe12 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/setup.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/setup.go
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ func (sc *setupController) waitForControlNodesCRD(ctx context.Context, cf apcli.
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 2*time.Minute)
 	defer cancel()
 	return watch.CRDs(extClient.CustomResourceDefinitions()).
-		WithObjectName(fmt.Sprintf("controlnodes.%s", apv1beta2.GroupName)).
+		WithObjectName("controlnodes."+apv1beta2.GroupName).
 		WithErrorCallback(func(err error) (time.Duration, error) {
 			if retryDelay, e := watch.IsRetryable(err); e == nil {
 				sc.log.WithError(err).Debugf(
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/cordon.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/cordon.go
index 615d2a861092..0768ca62b82d 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/cordon.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/cordon.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ package k0s
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ func (r *cordoning) drainNode(ctx context.Context, signalNode crcli.Object) erro
 		var ok bool
 		node, ok = signalNode.(*corev1.Node)
 		if !ok {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to cast signalNode to *corev1.Node")
+			return errors.New("failed to cast signalNode to *corev1.Node")
 		}
 	} else {
 		nodeName := signalNode.GetName()
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/uncordon.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/uncordon.go
index 6bdda9d3295b..878fcdd2f247 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/uncordon.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/signal/k0s/uncordon.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ package k0s
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ func (r *uncordoning) unCordonNode(ctx context.Context, signalNode crcli.Object)
 		var ok bool
 		node, ok = signalNode.(*corev1.Node)
 		if !ok {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to convert signalNode to Node")
+			return errors.New("failed to convert signalNode to Node")
 		}
 	} else {
 		nodeName := signalNode.GetName()
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/controller/updates/clusterinfo.go b/pkg/autopilot/controller/updates/clusterinfo.go
index 3c8b57d83ec3..5821af60a744 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/controller/updates/clusterinfo.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/controller/updates/clusterinfo.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"runtime"
+	"strconv"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/apis/k0s/v1beta1"
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/build"
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ func (ci *ClusterInfo) AsMap() map[string]string {
 	return map[string]string{
 		"K0S_StorageType":            string(ci.StorageType),
 		"K0S_ClusterID":              ci.ClusterID,
-		"K0S_ControlPlaneNodesCount": fmt.Sprintf("%d", ci.ControlPlaneNodesCount),
+		"K0S_ControlPlaneNodesCount": strconv.FormatUint(uint64(ci.ControlPlaneNodesCount), 10),
 		"K0S_WorkerData":             workerData,
 		"K0S_Version":                ci.K0sVersion,
 		"K0S_CNIProvider":            ci.CNIProvider,
diff --git a/pkg/autopilot/updater/client.go b/pkg/autopilot/updater/client.go
index ab80144471f5..08e2e94ba86f 100644
--- a/pkg/autopilot/updater/client.go
+++ b/pkg/autopilot/updater/client.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func (c *client) GetUpdate(channel, clusterID, lastUpdateStatus, currentVersion
 	}
 
 	if c.authToken != "" {
-		req.Header.Set("Authorization", fmt.Sprintf("Bearer %s", c.authToken))
+		req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+c.authToken)
 	}
 
 	resp, err := c.httpClient.Do(req)
diff --git a/pkg/backup/manager_unix.go b/pkg/backup/manager_unix.go
index bbe73219272f..e18604c76b53 100644
--- a/pkg/backup/manager_unix.go
+++ b/pkg/backup/manager_unix.go
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ func (bm *Manager) RunRestore(archivePath string, k0sVars *config.CfgVars, desir
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to parse backed-up configuration file, check the backup archive: %w", err)
 	}
-	bm.discoverSteps(fmt.Sprintf("%s/k0s.yaml", bm.tmpDir), cfg.Spec, k0sVars, "restore", desiredRestoredConfigPath, out)
+	bm.discoverSteps(bm.tmpDir+"/k0s.yaml", cfg.Spec, k0sVars, "restore", desiredRestoredConfigPath, out)
 	logrus.Info("Starting restore")
 
 	for _, step := range bm.steps {
diff --git a/pkg/backup/sqlitedb_unix.go b/pkg/backup/sqlitedb_unix.go
index ca8fdc661d4e..7bc365a42da8 100644
--- a/pkg/backup/sqlitedb_unix.go
+++ b/pkg/backup/sqlitedb_unix.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func newSqliteStep(tmpDir string, dbPath string) *sqliteStep {
 }
 
 func (s *sqliteStep) Name() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("sqlite db path %s", s.dbPath)
+	return "sqlite db path " + s.dbPath
 }
 
 func (s *sqliteStep) Backup() (StepResult, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/certificate/manager.go b/pkg/certificate/manager.go
index 8795503087ce..845cb0551ce9 100644
--- a/pkg/certificate/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/certificate/manager.go
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ type Manager struct {
 
 // EnsureCA makes sure the given CA certs and key is created.
 func (m *Manager) EnsureCA(name, cn string) error {
-	keyFile := filepath.Join(m.K0sVars.CertRootDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.key", name))
-	certFile := filepath.Join(m.K0sVars.CertRootDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.crt", name))
+	keyFile := filepath.Join(m.K0sVars.CertRootDir, name+".key")
+	certFile := filepath.Join(m.K0sVars.CertRootDir, name+".crt")
 
 	if file.Exists(keyFile) && file.Exists(certFile) {
 		return nil
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ func (m *Manager) EnsureCA(name, cn string) error {
 // EnsureCertificate creates the specified certificate if it does not already exist
 func (m *Manager) EnsureCertificate(certReq Request, ownerID int) (Certificate, error) {
 
-	keyFile := filepath.Join(m.K0sVars.CertRootDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.key", certReq.Name))
-	certFile := filepath.Join(m.K0sVars.CertRootDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.crt", certReq.Name))
+	keyFile := filepath.Join(m.K0sVars.CertRootDir, certReq.Name+".key")
+	certFile := filepath.Join(m.K0sVars.CertRootDir, certReq.Name+".crt")
 
 	// if regenerateCert returns true, it means we need to create the certs
 	if m.regenerateCert(certReq, keyFile, certFile) {
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ func (m *Manager) EnsureCertificate(certReq Request, ownerID int) (Certificate,
 			return Certificate{}, err
 		}
 		config := cli.Config{
-			CAFile:    fmt.Sprintf("file:%s", certReq.CACert),
-			CAKeyFile: fmt.Sprintf("file:%s", certReq.CAKey),
+			CAFile:    "file:" + certReq.CACert,
+			CAKeyFile: "file:" + certReq.CAKey,
 		}
 		s, err := sign.SignerFromConfig(config)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -228,8 +228,8 @@ func isManagedByK0s(cert *certinfo.Certificate) bool {
 }
 
 func (m *Manager) CreateKeyPair(name string, k0sVars *config.CfgVars, ownerID int) error {
-	keyFile := filepath.Join(k0sVars.CertRootDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.key", name))
-	pubFile := filepath.Join(k0sVars.CertRootDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.pub", name))
+	keyFile := filepath.Join(k0sVars.CertRootDir, name+".key")
+	pubFile := filepath.Join(k0sVars.CertRootDir, name+".pub")
 
 	if file.Exists(keyFile) && file.Exists(pubFile) {
 		return file.Chown(keyFile, ownerID, constant.CertSecureMode)
diff --git a/pkg/cleanup/containers.go b/pkg/cleanup/containers.go
index a3b063fcc896..f78d03200bd4 100644
--- a/pkg/cleanup/containers.go
+++ b/pkg/cleanup/containers.go
@@ -98,9 +98,9 @@ func (c *containers) isCustomCriUsed() bool {
 func (c *containers) startContainerd() error {
 	logrus.Debugf("starting containerd")
 	args := []string{
-		fmt.Sprintf("--root=%s", filepath.Join(c.Config.dataDir, "containerd")),
-		fmt.Sprintf("--state=%s", filepath.Join(c.Config.runDir, "containerd")),
-		fmt.Sprintf("--address=%s", c.Config.containerd.socketPath),
+		"--root=" + filepath.Join(c.Config.dataDir, "containerd"),
+		"--state=" + filepath.Join(c.Config.runDir, "containerd"),
+		"--address=" + c.Config.containerd.socketPath,
 	}
 	if file.Exists("/etc/k0s/containerd.toml") {
 		args = append(args, "--config=/etc/k0s/containerd.toml")
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/apiserver.go b/pkg/component/controller/apiserver.go
index 7e3025978aef..65c9a5303b38 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/apiserver.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/apiserver.go
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ func (a *APIServer) Start(_ context.Context) error {
 	logrus.Info("Starting kube-apiserver")
 	args := stringmap.StringMap{
 		"advertise-address":                a.ClusterConfig.Spec.API.Address,
-		"secure-port":                      fmt.Sprintf("%d", a.ClusterConfig.Spec.API.Port),
+		"secure-port":                      strconv.Itoa(a.ClusterConfig.Spec.API.Port),
 		"authorization-mode":               "Node,RBAC",
 		"client-ca-file":                   path.Join(a.K0sVars.CertRootDir, "ca.crt"),
 		"enable-bootstrap-token-auth":      "true",
@@ -263,17 +263,17 @@ func getEtcdArgs(storage *v1beta1.StorageSpec, k0sVars *config.CfgVars) ([]strin
 			Scheme: "unix", OmitHost: true,
 			Path: filepath.ToSlash(k0sVars.KineSocketPath),
 		} // kine endpoint
-		args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("--etcd-servers=%s", sockURL.String()))
+		args = append(args, "--etcd-servers="+sockURL.String())
 	case v1beta1.EtcdStorageType:
-		args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("--etcd-servers=%s", storage.Etcd.GetEndpointsAsString()))
+		args = append(args, "--etcd-servers="+storage.Etcd.GetEndpointsAsString())
 		if storage.Etcd.IsTLSEnabled() {
 			args = append(args,
-				fmt.Sprintf("--etcd-cafile=%s", storage.Etcd.GetCaFilePath(k0sVars.EtcdCertDir)),
-				fmt.Sprintf("--etcd-certfile=%s", storage.Etcd.GetCertFilePath(k0sVars.CertRootDir)),
-				fmt.Sprintf("--etcd-keyfile=%s", storage.Etcd.GetKeyFilePath(k0sVars.CertRootDir)))
+				"--etcd-cafile="+storage.Etcd.GetCaFilePath(k0sVars.EtcdCertDir),
+				"--etcd-certfile="+storage.Etcd.GetCertFilePath(k0sVars.CertRootDir),
+				"--etcd-keyfile="+storage.Etcd.GetKeyFilePath(k0sVars.CertRootDir))
 		}
 		if storage.Etcd.IsExternalClusterUsed() {
-			args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("--etcd-prefix=%s", storage.Etcd.ExternalCluster.EtcdPrefix))
+			args = append(args, "--etcd-prefix="+storage.Etcd.ExternalCluster.EtcdPrefix)
 		}
 	default:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid storage type: %s", storage.Type)
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/calico.go b/pkg/component/controller/calico.go
index 159caa5bbc04..6f37305c7036 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/calico.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/calico.go
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func (c *Calico) dumpCRDs() error {
 
 	for _, entry := range crds {
 		filename := entry.Name()
-		manifestName := fmt.Sprintf("calico-crd-%s", filename)
+		manifestName := "calico-crd-" + filename
 
 		output := bytes.NewBuffer([]byte{})
 
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func (c *Calico) dumpCRDs() error {
 		}
 
 		tw := templatewriter.TemplateWriter{
-			Name:     fmt.Sprintf("calico-crd-%s", strings.TrimSuffix(filename, filepath.Ext(filename))),
+			Name:     "calico-crd-" + strings.TrimSuffix(filename, filepath.Ext(filename)),
 			Template: string(contents),
 			Data:     emptyStruct,
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/controllersleasecounter.go b/pkg/component/controller/controllersleasecounter.go
index 41f24c6365ad..639e755ded08 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/controllersleasecounter.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/controllersleasecounter.go
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func (l *K0sControllersLeaseCounter) Start(context.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	leaseName := fmt.Sprintf("k0s-ctrl-%s", nodeName)
+	leaseName := "k0s-ctrl-" + nodeName
 
 	leasePool, err := leaderelection.NewLeasePool(client, leaseName, l.InvocationID,
 		leaderelection.WithLogger(log))
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/csrapprover.go b/pkg/component/controller/csrapprover.go
index bee2aa312649..2551836afb5f 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/csrapprover.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/csrapprover.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"crypto/x509"
 	"encoding/pem"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ func parseCSR(obj *v1.CertificateSigningRequest) (*x509.CertificateRequest, erro
 	pemBytes := obj.Spec.Request
 	block, _ := pem.Decode(pemBytes)
 	if block == nil || block.Type != "CERTIFICATE REQUEST" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("PEM block type must be CERTIFICATE REQUEST")
+		return nil, errors.New("PEM block type must be CERTIFICATE REQUEST")
 	}
 	csr, err := x509.ParseCertificateRequest(block.Bytes)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/etcd.go b/pkg/component/controller/etcd.go
index 6c2cc79475cf..8a5657df68ff 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/etcd.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/etcd.go
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ func (e *Etcd) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	for name, value := range e.Config.ExtraArgs {
-		argName := fmt.Sprintf("--%s", name)
+		argName := "--" + name
 		if _, ok := args[argName]; ok {
 			logrus.Warnf("overriding etcd flag with user provided value: %s", argName)
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/etcd_member_reconciler.go b/pkg/component/controller/etcd_member_reconciler.go
index a9654c66c472..81a0eb38ed8d 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/etcd_member_reconciler.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/etcd_member_reconciler.go
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func (e *EtcdMemberReconciler) createMemberObject(ctx context.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	// Convert the memberID to hex string
-	memberIDStr := fmt.Sprintf("%x", memberID)
+	memberIDStr := strconv.FormatUint(memberID, 16)
 	name, err := e.etcdConfig.GetNodeName()
 
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/k0scontrolapi.go b/pkg/component/controller/k0scontrolapi.go
index e8793998804a..64da68b51e76 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/k0scontrolapi.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/k0scontrolapi.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package controller
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/component/manager"
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ func (m *K0SControlAPI) Start(_ context.Context) error {
 		DataDir: m.K0sVars.DataDir,
 		Args: []string{
 			"api",
-			fmt.Sprintf("--data-dir=%s", m.K0sVars.DataDir),
+			"--data-dir=" + m.K0sVars.DataDir,
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/kine.go b/pkg/component/controller/kine.go
index 6b1f30781d9a..8bf5de2b497a 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/kine.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/kine.go
@@ -119,11 +119,11 @@ func (k *Kine) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 		DataDir: k.K0sVars.DataDir,
 		RunDir:  k.K0sVars.RunDir,
 		Args: []string{
-			fmt.Sprintf("--endpoint=%s", k.Config.DataSource),
+			"--endpoint=" + k.Config.DataSource,
 			// NB: kine doesn't parse URLs properly, so construct potentially
 			// invalid URLs that are understood by kine.
 			// https://github.com/k3s-io/kine/blob/v0.13.5/pkg/util/network.go#L5-L13
-			fmt.Sprintf("--listen-address=unix://%s", k.K0sVars.KineSocketPath),
+			"--listen-address=unix://" + k.K0sVars.KineSocketPath,
 			// Enable metrics on port 2380. The default is 8080, which clashes with kube-router.
 			"--metrics-bind-address=:2380",
 		},
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/konnectivity.go b/pkg/component/controller/konnectivity.go
index 9695d542526c..300b237df3ed 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/konnectivity.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/konnectivity.go
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ func (k *Konnectivity) serverArgs(count uint) []string {
 		"--kubeconfig":               k.K0sVars.KonnectivityKubeConfigPath,
 		"--mode":                     "grpc",
 		"--server-port":              "0",
-		"--agent-port":               fmt.Sprintf("%d", k.clusterConfig.Spec.Konnectivity.AgentPort),
-		"--admin-port":               fmt.Sprintf("%d", k.clusterConfig.Spec.Konnectivity.AdminPort),
+		"--agent-port":               strconv.FormatInt(int64(k.clusterConfig.Spec.Konnectivity.AgentPort), 10),
+		"--admin-port":               strconv.FormatInt(int64(k.clusterConfig.Spec.Konnectivity.AdminPort), 10),
 		"--health-bind-address":      "localhost",
 		"--health-port":              "8092",
 		"--agent-namespace":          "kube-system",
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/kuberouter.go b/pkg/component/controller/kuberouter.go
index 9f4bb43a9805..381443bc051e 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/kuberouter.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/kuberouter.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
 
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/internal/pkg/stringmap"
 	"github.com/k0sproject/k0s/internal/pkg/templatewriter"
@@ -119,10 +120,10 @@ func (k *KubeRouter) Reconcile(_ context.Context, clusterConfig *v1beta1.Cluster
 		"bgp-graceful-restart": "true",
 		"enable-ipv4":          "true",
 		// Args from config values
-		"enable-ipv6":  fmt.Sprintf("%t", clusterConfig.Spec.Network.DualStack.Enabled),
-		"auto-mtu":     fmt.Sprintf("%t", clusterConfig.Spec.Network.KubeRouter.IsAutoMTU()),
-		"metrics-port": fmt.Sprintf("%d", clusterConfig.Spec.Network.KubeRouter.MetricsPort),
-		"hairpin-mode": fmt.Sprintf("%t", globalHairpin),
+		"enable-ipv6":  strconv.FormatBool(clusterConfig.Spec.Network.DualStack.Enabled),
+		"auto-mtu":     strconv.FormatBool(clusterConfig.Spec.Network.KubeRouter.IsAutoMTU()),
+		"metrics-port": strconv.Itoa(clusterConfig.Spec.Network.KubeRouter.MetricsPort),
+		"hairpin-mode": strconv.FormatBool(globalHairpin),
 	}
 
 	// We should not add peering flags if the values are empty
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/kuberouter_test.go b/pkg/component/controller/kuberouter_test.go
index 85c943b63f62..e6e6e62030e0 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/kuberouter_test.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/kuberouter_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package controller
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@ func findConfig(resources []*unstructured.Unstructured) (corev1.ConfigMap, error
 		}
 	}
 
-	return cm, fmt.Errorf("kube-router cm not found in manifests")
+	return cm, errors.New("kube-router cm not found in manifests")
 }
 
 func getKubeRouterPlugin(cm corev1.ConfigMap, pluginType string) (dig.Mapping, error) {
@@ -249,7 +250,7 @@ func getKubeRouterPlugin(cm corev1.ConfigMap, pluginType string) (dig.Mapping, e
 	}
 	plugins, ok := data.Dig("plugins").([]interface{})
 	if !ok {
-		return data, fmt.Errorf("failed to dig plugins")
+		return data, errors.New("failed to dig plugins")
 	}
 	for _, p := range plugins {
 		plugin := dig.Mapping(p.(map[string]interface{}))
@@ -274,5 +275,5 @@ func findDaemonset(resources []*unstructured.Unstructured) (v1.DaemonSet, error)
 		}
 	}
 
-	return ds, fmt.Errorf("kube-router ds not found in manifests")
+	return ds, errors.New("kube-router ds not found in manifests")
 }
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/metricserver.go b/pkg/component/controller/metricserver.go
index 100bc83d3254..f08c4fede7fa 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/metricserver.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/metricserver.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package controller
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"path"
@@ -346,7 +347,7 @@ func (m *MetricServer) Reconcile(_ context.Context, clusterConfig *v1beta1.Clust
 // So that's 10m CPU and 30MiB mem per 10 nodes
 func (m *MetricServer) getConfig(ctx context.Context) (metricsConfig, error) {
 	if m.clusterConfig == nil {
-		return metricsConfig{}, fmt.Errorf("cluster config not available yet")
+		return metricsConfig{}, errors.New("cluster config not available yet")
 	}
 	cfg := metricsConfig{
 		Image:      m.clusterConfig.Spec.Images.MetricsServer.URI(),
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/noderole.go b/pkg/component/controller/noderole.go
index 999f5830e0f5..e0ccc4cc1120 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/noderole.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/noderole.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package controller
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"path"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ func (n *NodeRole) ensureNodeLabel(ctx context.Context, client kubernetes.Interf
 }
 
 func (n *NodeRole) addNodeLabel(ctx context.Context, client kubernetes.Interface, node, key, value string) (*corev1.Node, error) {
-	keyPath := fmt.Sprintf("/metadata/labels/%s", jsonpointer.Escape(key))
+	keyPath := path.Join("/metadata/labels", jsonpointer.Escape(key))
 	patch := fmt.Sprintf(`[{"op":"add", "path":"%s", "value":"%s" }]`, keyPath, value)
 	return client.CoreV1().Nodes().Patch(ctx, node, types.JSONPatchType, []byte(patch), metav1.PatchOptions{})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/component/controller/windowsstackcomponent.go b/pkg/component/controller/windowsstackcomponent.go
index 927248a2f6fa..c4aab160f65f 100644
--- a/pkg/component/controller/windowsstackcomponent.go
+++ b/pkg/component/controller/windowsstackcomponent.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ func (n *WindowsStackComponent) makeRenderingContext(cfg *v1beta1.ClusterConfig)
 		CNIBin:           "c:\\\\opt\\\\cni\\\\bin",
 		CNIConf:          "c:\\\\opt\\\\cni\\\\conf",
 		KubeAPIHost:      cfg.Spec.API.Address,
-		KubeAPIPort:      fmt.Sprintf("%d", cfg.Spec.API.Port),
+		KubeAPIPort:      strconv.Itoa(cfg.Spec.API.Port),
 		IPv4ServiceCIDR:  cfg.Spec.Network.ServiceCIDR,
 		Nameserver:       dns,
 		NodeImage:        "calico/windows:v3.23.5",
diff --git a/pkg/component/manager/manager.go b/pkg/component/manager/manager.go
index 379d443a554b..d7c9ee969b25 100644
--- a/pkg/component/manager/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/component/manager/manager.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package manager
 import (
 	"container/list"
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ func (m *Manager) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 	perfTimer := performance.NewTimer("component-start").Buffer().Start()
 	for _, comp := range m.Components {
 		compName := reflect.TypeOf(comp).Elem().Name()
-		perfTimer.Checkpoint(fmt.Sprintf("running-%s", compName))
+		perfTimer.Checkpoint("running-" + compName)
 		logrus.Infof("starting %v", compName)
 		if err := comp.Start(ctx); err != nil {
 			_ = m.Stop()
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ func (m *Manager) Stop() error {
 		if err := component.Stop(); err != nil {
 			logrus.Errorf("failed to stop component %s: %s", name, err.Error())
 			if ret == nil {
-				ret = fmt.Errorf("failed to stop components")
+				ret = errors.New("failed to stop components")
 			}
 		} else {
 			logrus.Infof("stopped component %s", name)
diff --git a/pkg/component/manager/manager_test.go b/pkg/component/manager/manager_test.go
index 33dc4946359b..fbc79c94c3b8 100644
--- a/pkg/component/manager/manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/component/manager/manager_test.go
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ package manager
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
 	proberPackage "github.com/k0sproject/k0s/pkg/component/prober"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func TestManagerInitFail(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	f1 := &Fake{
-		InitErr: fmt.Errorf("failed"),
+		InitErr: assert.AnError,
 	}
 	m.Add(ctx, f1)
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func TestManagerRunFail(t *testing.T) {
 	m.Add(ctx, f1)
 
 	f2 := &Fake{
-		RunErr: fmt.Errorf("failed"),
+		RunErr: assert.AnError,
 	}
 	m.Add(ctx, f2)
 
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ func TestManagerHealthyFail(t *testing.T) {
 	m.Add(ctx, f1)
 
 	f2 := &Fake{
-		HealthyErr: fmt.Errorf("failed"),
+		HealthyErr: assert.AnError,
 	}
 	m.Add(ctx, f2)
 
diff --git a/pkg/component/prober/prober_test.go b/pkg/component/prober/prober_test.go
index e88306d5e285..fce7a5c7c5e4 100644
--- a/pkg/component/prober/prober_test.go
+++ b/pkg/component/prober/prober_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -46,15 +45,15 @@ func TestHealthChecks(t *testing.T) {
 		prober := testProber(5)
 
 		prober.Register("test", &mockComponent{
-			errors: []error{nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("test1 error"), nil, nil},
+			errors: []error{nil, nil, errors.New("test1 error"), nil, nil},
 		})
 
 		prober.Register("test2", &mockComponent{
-			errors: []error{nil, fmt.Errorf("test2 error"), nil, nil, nil},
+			errors: []error{nil, errors.New("test2 error"), nil, nil, nil},
 		})
 
 		prober.Register("test3", &mockComponent{
-			errors: []error{nil, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("test3 error")},
+			errors: []error{nil, nil, nil, nil, errors.New("test3 error")},
 		})
 		prober.Run(context.Background())
 		st := prober.State(maxEvents)
@@ -74,15 +73,15 @@ func TestHealthChecks(t *testing.T) {
 		prober := testProber(5)
 
 		prober.Register("test", &mockComponent{
-			errors: []error{nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("test1 error"), nil, nil},
+			errors: []error{nil, nil, errors.New("test1 error"), nil, nil},
 		})
 
 		prober.Register("test2", &mockComponent{
-			errors: []error{nil, fmt.Errorf("test2 error"), nil, nil, nil},
+			errors: []error{nil, errors.New("test2 error"), nil, nil, nil},
 		})
 
 		prober.Register("test3", &mockComponent{
-			errors: []error{nil, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("test3 error")},
+			errors: []error{nil, nil, nil, nil, errors.New("test3 error")},
 		})
 		prober.Run(context.Background())
 		st := prober.State(1)
diff --git a/pkg/component/status/status.go b/pkg/component/status/status.go
index 161d82bdfa4f..888f42ce4326 100644
--- a/pkg/component/status/status.go
+++ b/pkg/component/status/status.go
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func (sh *statusHandler) getCurrentStatus(ctx context.Context) K0sStatus {
 	if sh.client == nil {
 		kubeClient, err := sh.buildWorkerSideKubeAPIClient(ctx)
 		if err != nil {
-			status.WorkerToAPIConnectionStatus.Message = fmt.Sprintf("failed to create kube-api client required for kube-api status reports, probably kubelet failed to init: %s", err.Error())
+			status.WorkerToAPIConnectionStatus.Message = "failed to create kube-api client required for kube-api status reports, probably kubelet failed to init: " + err.Error()
 			return status
 		}
 		sh.client = kubeClient
diff --git a/pkg/component/worker/config/loader_test.go b/pkg/component/worker/config/loader_test.go
index 22ea42aeee0f..1146011d44b7 100644
--- a/pkg/component/worker/config/loader_test.go
+++ b/pkg/component/worker/config/loader_test.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ data:
 			Kind:       "ConfigMap",
 		},
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
-			Name:      fmt.Sprintf("worker-config-fake-%s", constant.KubernetesMajorMinorVersion),
+			Name:      "worker-config-fake-" + constant.KubernetesMajorMinorVersion,
 			Namespace: "kube-system",
 		},
 		Data: map[string]string{
diff --git a/pkg/component/worker/containerd/component.go b/pkg/component/worker/containerd/component.go
index d20227c9fd7c..718704d7dd49 100644
--- a/pkg/component/worker/containerd/component.go
+++ b/pkg/component/worker/containerd/component.go
@@ -151,11 +151,11 @@ func (c *Component) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 			RunDir:  c.K0sVars.RunDir,
 			DataDir: c.K0sVars.DataDir,
 			Args: []string{
-				fmt.Sprintf("--root=%s", filepath.Join(c.K0sVars.DataDir, "containerd")),
-				fmt.Sprintf("--state=%s", filepath.Join(c.K0sVars.RunDir, "containerd")),
-				fmt.Sprintf("--address=%s", socketPath),
-				fmt.Sprintf("--log-level=%s", c.LogLevel),
-				fmt.Sprintf("--config=%s", c.confPath),
+				"--root=" + filepath.Join(c.K0sVars.DataDir, "containerd"),
+				"--state=" + filepath.Join(c.K0sVars.RunDir, "containerd"),
+				"--address=" + socketPath,
+				"--log-level=" + c.LogLevel,
+				"--config=" + c.confPath,
 			},
 		}
 
diff --git a/pkg/component/worker/kubelet.go b/pkg/component/worker/kubelet.go
index 0d27ce2374b9..0248607ab031 100644
--- a/pkg/component/worker/kubelet.go
+++ b/pkg/component/worker/kubelet.go
@@ -233,10 +233,11 @@ func (k *Kubelet) Stop() error {
 func (k *Kubelet) writeKubeletConfig(path string) error {
 	var staticPodURL string
 	if k.StaticPods != nil {
-		var err error
-		if staticPodURL, err = k.StaticPods.ManifestURL(); err != nil {
+		url, err := k.StaticPods.ManifestURL()
+		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		staticPodURL = url.String()
 	}
 
 	containerRuntimeEndpoint, err := GetContainerRuntimeEndpoint(k.CRISocket, k.K0sVars.RunDir)
diff --git a/pkg/component/worker/nllb/reconciler_test.go b/pkg/component/worker/nllb/reconciler_test.go
index 764f22f196ae..2bff91fa0610 100644
--- a/pkg/component/worker/nllb/reconciler_test.go
+++ b/pkg/component/worker/nllb/reconciler_test.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"io/fs"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
@@ -533,9 +534,9 @@ func (m *backendMock) updateAPIServers(apiServers []net.HostPort) error {
 
 type staticPodsMock struct{ mock.Mock }
 
-func (m *staticPodsMock) ManifestURL() (string, error) {
+func (m *staticPodsMock) ManifestURL() (*url.URL, error) {
 	args := m.Called()
-	return args.String(0), args.Error(1)
+	return args.Get(0).(*url.URL), args.Error(1)
 }
 
 func (m *staticPodsMock) ClaimStaticPod(namespace, name string) (worker.StaticPod, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/component/worker/ocibundle.go b/pkg/component/worker/ocibundle.go
index 630443de6004..7883623e7ea6 100644
--- a/pkg/component/worker/ocibundle.go
+++ b/pkg/component/worker/ocibundle.go
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func (a *OCIBundleReconciler) unpinOne(ctx context.Context, image images.Image,
 		if err := SetImageSources(&image, sources); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to reset image sources: %w", err)
 		}
-		_, err := isvc.Update(ctx, image, fmt.Sprintf("labels.%s", ImageSourcePathsLabel))
+		_, err := isvc.Update(ctx, image, "labels."+ImageSourcePathsLabel)
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -302,8 +302,8 @@ func (a *OCIBundleReconciler) unpackBundle(ctx context.Context, client *containe
 	}
 
 	fieldpaths := []string{
-		fmt.Sprintf("labels.%s", ImagePinnedLabel),
-		fmt.Sprintf("labels.%s", ImageSourcePathsLabel),
+		"labels." + ImagePinnedLabel,
+		"labels." + ImageSourcePathsLabel,
 	}
 
 	isvc := client.ImageService()
diff --git a/pkg/component/worker/static_pods.go b/pkg/component/worker/static_pods.go
index 3a4d4115dc6e..dcb7610ac856 100644
--- a/pkg/component/worker/static_pods.go
+++ b/pkg/component/worker/static_pods.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ import (
 type StaticPods interface {
 	// ManifestURL returns the HTTP URL that can be used by the kubelet to
 	// obtain static pod manifests managed by this StaticPods instance.
-	ManifestURL() (string, error)
+	ManifestURL() (*url.URL, error)
 
 	// ClaimStaticPod returns a new, empty StaticPod associated with the given
 	// namespace and name. Note that only one StaticPod for a given combination
@@ -96,9 +97,9 @@ type staticPods struct {
 	contentPtr  atomic.Value // Store only when mu is locked, concurrent Load is okay
 	claimedPods map[staticPodID]*staticPod
 
-	manifestURL string // guaranteed to be initialized when started, immutable afterwards
-	stopSignal  context.CancelFunc
-	stopped     sync.WaitGroup
+	hostAddr   string // guaranteed to be initialized when started, immutable afterwards
+	stopSignal context.CancelFunc
+	stopped    sync.WaitGroup
 }
 
 var _ manager.Ready = (*staticPods)(nil)
@@ -116,14 +117,14 @@ func NewStaticPods() interface {
 	return staticPods
 }
 
-func (s *staticPods) ManifestURL() (string, error) {
+func (s *staticPods) ManifestURL() (*url.URL, error) {
 	if lifecycle := s.peekLifecycle(); lifecycle < staticPodsStarted {
-		return "", staticPodsNotYet(staticPodsStarted)
+		return nil, staticPodsNotYet(staticPodsStarted)
 	}
 
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	defer s.mu.Unlock()
-	return s.manifestURL, nil
+	return &url.URL{Scheme: "http", Host: s.hostAddr, Path: "/manifests"}, nil
 }
 
 func (s *staticPods) ClaimStaticPod(namespace, name string) (StaticPod, error) {
@@ -382,7 +383,7 @@ func (s *staticPods) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 	}()
 
 	// Store the handles.
-	s.manifestURL = fmt.Sprintf("http://%s/manifests", addr)
+	s.hostAddr = addr
 	s.stopSignal = cancelFunc
 
 	// This instance started successfully, everything is setup and running.
@@ -482,7 +483,7 @@ func (s *staticPods) Ready() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, fmt.Sprintf("%s/_healthz", url), nil)
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, url.JoinPath("_healthz").String(), nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/component/worker/static_pods_test.go b/pkg/component/worker/static_pods_test.go
index 6596874aa320..f8655b7c5c72 100644
--- a/pkg/component/worker/static_pods_test.go
+++ b/pkg/component/worker/static_pods_test.go
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ func TestStaticPods_Lifecycle(t *testing.T) {
 		url, err := underTest.ManifestURL()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, url, nil)
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, url.String(), nil)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 3*time.Second)
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ func TestStaticPods_Lifecycle(t *testing.T) {
 		url, err := underTest.ManifestURL()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, url, nil)
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, url.String(), nil)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 3*time.Second)
diff --git a/pkg/component/worker/utils.go b/pkg/component/worker/utils.go
index b567247be33c..655105552995 100644
--- a/pkg/component/worker/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/component/worker/utils.go
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func BootstrapKubeletKubeconfig(ctx context.Context, k0sVars *config.CfgVars, wo
 
 	// 4: None of the above, bail out.
 	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("neither regular nor bootstrap kubelet kubeconfig files exist and no join token given; dunno how to make kubelet authenticate to API server")
+		return errors.New("neither regular nor bootstrap kubelet kubeconfig files exist and no join token given; dunno how to make kubelet authenticate to API server")
 	}
 
 	kubeletCAPath := path.Join(k0sVars.CertRootDir, "ca.crt")
diff --git a/pkg/config/cfgvars.go b/pkg/config/cfgvars.go
index d27bcc7ba873..947252c069cb 100644
--- a/pkg/config/cfgvars.go
+++ b/pkg/config/cfgvars.go
@@ -235,11 +235,11 @@ func (c *CfgVars) NodeConfig() (*v1beta1.ClusterConfig, error) {
 	}
 
 	if c.origin == CfgVarsOriginRuntime {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("runtime config is not available")
+		return nil, errors.New("runtime config is not available")
 	}
 
 	if c.StartupConfigPath == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("config path is not set")
+		return nil, errors.New("config path is not set")
 	}
 
 	var nodeConfig *v1beta1.ClusterConfig
diff --git a/pkg/container/runtime/cri.go b/pkg/container/runtime/cri.go
index 2a82509a7fae..00d3e4e5cbbc 100644
--- a/pkg/container/runtime/cri.go
+++ b/pkg/container/runtime/cri.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package runtime
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ func (cri *CRIRuntime) RemoveContainer(ctx context.Context, id string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create CRI runtime client: %w", err)
 	}
 	if client == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create CRI runtime client")
+		return errors.New("failed to create CRI runtime client")
 	}
 	request := &pb.RemovePodSandboxRequest{PodSandboxId: id}
 	logrus.Debugf("RemovePodSandboxRequest: %v", request)
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ func (cri *CRIRuntime) StopContainer(ctx context.Context, id string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create CRI runtime client: %w", err)
 	}
 	if client == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create CRI runtime client")
+		return errors.New("failed to create CRI runtime client")
 	}
 	request := &pb.StopPodSandboxRequest{PodSandboxId: id}
 	logrus.Debugf("StopPodSandboxRequest: %v", request)
diff --git a/pkg/install/service.go b/pkg/install/service.go
index 42c4cf13e5ca..c7cccd5d4b1c 100644
--- a/pkg/install/service.go
+++ b/pkg/install/service.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func InstalledService() (service.Service, error) {
 	}
 
 	var s service.Service
-	return s, fmt.Errorf("k0s has not been installed as a service")
+	return s, errors.New("k0s has not been installed as a service")
 }
 
 // EnsureService installs the k0s service, per the given arguments, and the detected platform
diff --git a/pkg/leaderelection/client.go b/pkg/leaderelection/client.go
index 70b71965e28c..3736c5da5f0d 100644
--- a/pkg/leaderelection/client.go
+++ b/pkg/leaderelection/client.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ package leaderelection
 import (
 	"cmp"
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
+	"errors"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
@@ -64,13 +64,13 @@ type LeaseConfig struct {
 // Implements [Config].
 func (c *LeaseConfig) buildLock() (resourcelock.Interface, error) {
 	if c.Namespace == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("namespace may not be empty")
+		return nil, errors.New("namespace may not be empty")
 	}
 	if c.Name == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("name may not be empty")
+		return nil, errors.New("name may not be empty")
 	}
 	if c.Client == nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("client may not be nil")
+		return nil, errors.New("client may not be nil")
 	}
 
 	return &resourcelock.LeaseLock{
diff --git a/pkg/supervisor/supervisor.go b/pkg/supervisor/supervisor.go
index bcf4bc85f954..b4dd9568a289 100644
--- a/pkg/supervisor/supervisor.go
+++ b/pkg/supervisor/supervisor.go
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ func (s *Supervisor) shouldKillProcess(ph procHandle) (bool, error) {
 // - inject k0s embedded bins into path
 func getEnv(dataDir, component string, keepEnvPrefix bool) []string {
 	env := os.Environ()
-	componentPrefix := fmt.Sprintf("%s_", strings.ToUpper(component))
+	componentPrefix := strings.ToUpper(component) + "_"
 
 	// put the component specific env vars in the front.
 	sort.Slice(env, func(i, j int) bool { return strings.HasPrefix(env[i], componentPrefix) })
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ func getEnv(dataDir, component string, keepEnvPrefix bool) []string {
 		}
 		switch k {
 		case "PATH":
-			env[i] = fmt.Sprintf("PATH=%s", dir.PathListJoin(path.Join(dataDir, "bin"), v))
+			env[i] = "PATH=" + dir.PathListJoin(path.Join(dataDir, "bin"), v)
 		default:
 			env[i] = fmt.Sprintf("%s=%s", k, v)
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/telemetry/telemetry.go b/pkg/telemetry/telemetry.go
index f3cb447c6bf6..ff4c986d4631 100644
--- a/pkg/telemetry/telemetry.go
+++ b/pkg/telemetry/telemetry.go
@@ -160,6 +160,6 @@ func addCustomData(ctx context.Context, analyticCtx *analytics.Context, clients
 		return
 	}
 	for k, v := range cm.Data {
-		analyticCtx.Extra[fmt.Sprintf("custom.%s", k)] = v
+		analyticCtx.Extra["custom."+k] = v
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/token/manager.go b/pkg/token/manager.go
index c059e5ec1b13..194330040a5a 100644
--- a/pkg/token/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/token/manager.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func RandomBootstrapSecret(role string, valid time.Duration) (*corev1.Secret, st
 
 	s := corev1.Secret{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
-			Name:      fmt.Sprintf("bootstrap-token-%s", tokenID),
+			Name:      "bootstrap-token-" + tokenID,
 			Namespace: "kube-system",
 		},
 		Type: corev1.SecretTypeBootstrapToken,
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ func (m *Manager) List(ctx context.Context, role string) ([]Token, error) {
 }
 
 func (m *Manager) Remove(ctx context.Context, tokenID string) error {
-	err := m.client.CoreV1().Secrets("kube-system").Delete(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("bootstrap-token-%s", tokenID), metav1.DeleteOptions{})
+	err := m.client.CoreV1().Secrets("kube-system").Delete(ctx, "bootstrap-token-"+tokenID, metav1.DeleteOptions{})
 	if errors.IsNotFound(err) {
 		return nil
 	}