diff --git a/providers/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/executors/kubernetes_executor.py b/providers/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/executors/kubernetes_executor.py
index 56c3a786795a7..bc5699361bac0 100644
--- a/providers/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/executors/kubernetes_executor.py
+++ b/providers/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/executors/kubernetes_executor.py
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ def clear_not_launched_queued_tasks(self, session: Session = NEW_SESSION) -> Non
             from airflow.executors.executor_loader import ExecutorLoader
 
             default_executor = str(ExecutorLoader.get_default_executor_name())
+            default_executor = default_executor.strip(":")
 
         with Stats.timer("kubernetes_executor.clear_not_launched_queued_tasks.duration"):
             self.log.debug("Clearing tasks that have not been launched")