diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b3c0ad13..3e78f7b8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -385,6 +385,11 @@ K9s uses aliases to navigate most K8s resources.
           image: killerAdmin
           # The namespace to launch to shell pod into.
           namespace: fred
+          # imagePullPolicy defaults to Always
+          imagePullPolicy: Always
+          # imagePullSecrets defaults to no secret
+          imagePullSecrets:
+          - name: my-regcred
           # The resource limit to set on the shell pod.
           limits:
             cpu: 100m
@@ -429,6 +434,12 @@ k9s:
       shellPod:
         image: cool_kid_admin:42
         namespace: blee
+        # imagePullPolicy defaults to Always
+        imagePullPolicy: Always
+        # imagePullSecrets defaults to no secret
+        imagePullSecrets:
+        - name: my-regcred
+        # The resource limit to set on the shell pod.
         limits:
           cpu: 100m
           memory: 100Mi
diff --git a/internal/config/shell_pod.go b/internal/config/shell_pod.go
index f1e21692..f4efe0bb 100644
--- a/internal/config/shell_pod.go
+++ b/internal/config/shell_pod.go
@@ -15,12 +15,14 @@ type Limits map[v1.ResourceName]string
 
 // ShellPod represents k9s shell configuration.
 type ShellPod struct {
-	Image     string            `json:"image"`
-	Command   []string          `json:"command,omitempty"`
-	Args      []string          `json:"args,omitempty"`
-	Namespace string            `json:"namespace"`
-	Limits    Limits            `json:"resources,omitempty"`
-	Labels    map[string]string `json:"labels,omitempty"`
+	Image            string                    `json:"image"`
+	ImagePullSecrets []v1.LocalObjectReference `json:"imagePullSecrets,omitempty" yaml:"imagePullSecrets,omitempty"`
+	ImagePullPolicy  v1.PullPolicy             `json:"imagePullPolicy,omitempty" yaml:"imagePullPolicy,omitempty"`
+	Command          []string                  `json:"command,omitempty"`
+	Args             []string                  `json:"args,omitempty"`
+	Namespace        string                    `json:"namespace"`
+	Limits           Limits                    `json:"resources,omitempty"`
+	Labels           map[string]string         `json:"labels,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // NewShellPod returns a new instance.
diff --git a/internal/view/exec.go b/internal/view/exec.go
index 691afc8a..2a74dd1e 100644
--- a/internal/view/exec.go
+++ b/internal/view/exec.go
@@ -360,8 +360,9 @@ func k9sShellPod(node string, cfg *config.ShellPod) *v1.Pod {
 
 	log.Debug().Msgf("Shell Config %#v", cfg)
 	c := v1.Container{
-		Name:  k9sShell,
-		Image: cfg.Image,
+		Name:            k9sShell,
+		Image:           cfg.Image,
+		ImagePullPolicy: cfg.ImagePullPolicy,
 		VolumeMounts: []v1.VolumeMount{
 			{
 				Name:      "root-vol",
@@ -393,6 +394,7 @@ func k9sShellPod(node string, cfg *config.ShellPod) *v1.Pod {
 			RestartPolicy:                 v1.RestartPolicyNever,
 			HostPID:                       true,
 			HostNetwork:                   true,
+			ImagePullSecrets:              cfg.ImagePullSecrets,
 			TerminationGracePeriodSeconds: &grace,
 			Volumes: []v1.Volume{
 				{