diff --git a/kyaml/fn/runtime/container/container.go b/kyaml/fn/runtime/container/container.go
index 3975e003b..8e9bf52f8 100644
--- a/kyaml/fn/runtime/container/container.go
+++ b/kyaml/fn/runtime/container/container.go
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ func (c *Filter) getCommand() (string, []string) {
 	args := []string{"run",
 		"--rm",                                              // delete the container afterward
 		"-i", "-a", "STDIN", "-a", "STDOUT", "-a", "STDERR", // attach stdin, stdout, stderr
-		"--network", c.ContainerSpec.Network.Name.String(),
+		"--network", string(c.ContainerSpec.Network.Name),
 
 		// added security options
 		"--user", c.User.String(),
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ func (c *Filter) getCommand() (string, []string) {
 	return "docker", a
 }
 
-// NewContainer returns a new container instance
+// NewContainer returns a new container filter
 func NewContainer(spec runtimeutil.ContainerSpec) Filter {
 	f := Filter{ContainerSpec: spec}
 	// default user is nobody
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func NewContainer(spec runtimeutil.ContainerSpec) Filter {
 	}
 
 	// default network name is none
-	if f.ContainerSpec.Network.Name.IsEmpty() {
+	if f.ContainerSpec.Network.Name == "" {
 		f.ContainerSpec.Network.Name = runtimeutil.NetworkNameNone
 	}
 
diff --git a/kyaml/fn/runtime/runtimeutil/functiontypes.go b/kyaml/fn/runtime/runtimeutil/functiontypes.go
index 3eac14399..869d27d20 100644
--- a/kyaml/fn/runtime/runtimeutil/functiontypes.go
+++ b/kyaml/fn/runtime/runtimeutil/functiontypes.go
@@ -36,18 +36,6 @@ const (
 // ContainerNetworkName is a type for network name used in container
 type ContainerNetworkName string
 
-func (n *ContainerNetworkName) String() string {
-	return string(*n)
-}
-
-func (n *ContainerNetworkName) IsEmpty() bool {
-	return string(*n) == ""
-}
-
-func (n *ContainerNetworkName) Set(s string) {
-	*n = ContainerNetworkName(s)
-}
-
 const (
 	NetworkNameNone  ContainerNetworkName = "none"
 	NetworkNameEmpty ContainerNetworkName = ""
diff --git a/kyaml/runfn/runfn.go b/kyaml/runfn/runfn.go
index 59f44a170..4b743df2b 100644
--- a/kyaml/runfn/runfn.go
+++ b/kyaml/runfn/runfn.go
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ func (r RunFns) getFunctionFilters(global bool, fns ...*yaml.RNode) (
 				// TODO(eddiezane): Provide error info about which function needs the network
 				return fltrs, errors.Errorf("network required but not enabled with --network")
 			}
-			spec.Container.Network.Name.Set(r.NetworkName)
+			spec.Container.Network.Name = runtimeutil.ContainerNetworkName(r.NetworkName)
 		}
 		// command line username has higher priority
 		if r.User != "" {