diff --git a/api/internal/localizer/localizer.go b/api/internal/localizer/localizer.go
index 206c31a13..0db070176 100644
--- a/api/internal/localizer/localizer.go
+++ b/api/internal/localizer/localizer.go
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ type localizer struct {
 }
 
 // Run attempts to localize the kustomization root at target with the given localize arguments
-func Run(target string, scope string, newDir string, fSys filesys.FileSystem) error {
+// and returns the path to the created newDir.
+func Run(target, scope, newDir string, fSys filesys.FileSystem) (string, error) {
 	ldr, args, err := NewLoader(target, scope, newDir, fSys)
 	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err)
+		return "", errors.Wrap(err)
 	}
 	defer func() { _ = ldr.Cleanup() }()
 
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ func Run(target string, scope string, newDir string, fSys filesys.FileSystem) er
 	}
 	dst := args.NewDir.Join(toDst)
 	if err = fSys.MkdirAll(dst); err != nil {
-		return errors.WrapPrefixf(err, "unable to create directory in localize destination")
+		return "", errors.WrapPrefixf(err, "unable to create directory in localize destination")
 	}
 
 	err = (&localizer{
@@ -66,9 +67,9 @@ func Run(target string, scope string, newDir string, fSys filesys.FileSystem) er
 		if errCleanup != nil {
 			log.Printf("unable to clean localize destination: %s", errCleanup)
 		}
-		return errors.WrapPrefixf(err, "unable to localize target %q", target)
+		return "", errors.WrapPrefixf(err, "unable to localize target %q", target)
 	}
-	return nil
+	return args.NewDir.String(), nil
 }
 
 // localize localizes the root that lc is at
diff --git a/api/internal/localizer/localizer_test.go b/api/internal/localizer/localizer_test.go
index f86d059f8..af30100de 100644
--- a/api/internal/localizer/localizer_test.go
+++ b/api/internal/localizer/localizer_test.go
@@ -102,6 +102,14 @@ func addFiles(t *testing.T, fSys filesys.FileSystem, parentDir string, files map
 	}
 }
 
+func checkRun(t *testing.T, fSys filesys.FileSystem, target, scope, dst string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	actualDst, err := Run(target, scope, dst, fSys)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, dst, actualDst)
+}
+
 func makeFileSystems(t *testing.T, target string, files map[string]string) (expected filesys.FileSystem, actual filesys.FileSystem) {
 	t.Helper()
 
@@ -161,9 +169,7 @@ func checkLocalizeInTargetSuccess(t *testing.T, files map[string]string) {
 	fSys := makeMemoryFs(t)
 	addFiles(t, fSys, "/a", files)
 
-	err := Run("/a", "/", "dst", fSys)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, fSys, "/a", "/", "/dst")
 	fSysExpected := makeMemoryFs(t)
 	addFiles(t, fSysExpected, "/a", files)
 	addFiles(t, fSysExpected, "/dst/a", files)
@@ -179,9 +185,7 @@ namePrefix: my-
 	}
 	fSysExpected, fSysActual := makeFileSystems(t, "/a", kustomization)
 
-	err := Run("/a", "", "/a/b/dst", fSysActual)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, fSysActual, "/a", "/a", "/a/b/dst")
 	addFiles(t, fSysExpected, "/a/b/dst", kustomization)
 	checkFSys(t, fSysExpected, fSysActual)
 }
@@ -202,9 +206,7 @@ patches:
 	}
 	fSysExpected, fSysActual := makeFileSystems(t, "/a/b", kustomization)
 
-	err := Run("/a/b", "/", "/a/b/dst", fSysActual)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, fSysActual, "/a/b", "/", "/a/b/dst")
 	addFiles(t, fSysExpected, "/a/b/dst/a/b", kustomization)
 	checkFSys(t, fSysExpected, fSysActual)
 }
@@ -259,7 +261,7 @@ func TestLoadUnknownKustFields(t *testing.T) {
 suffix: invalid`,
 	})
 
-	err := Run("/a", "", "", fSysTest)
+	_, err := Run("/a", "", "", fSysTest)
 	require.EqualError(t, err,
 		`unable to localize target "/a": invalid Kustomization: error unmarshaling JSON: while decoding JSON: json: unknown field "suffix"`)
 
@@ -299,9 +301,7 @@ patches:
 	}
 	expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/alpha/beta/gamma", kustAndPatch)
 
-	err := Run("/alpha/beta/gamma", "/", "", actual)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, actual, "/alpha/beta/gamma", "/", "/localized-gamma")
 	addFiles(t, expected, "/localized-gamma/alpha/beta/gamma", map[string]string{
 		"kustomization.yaml": `apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
 kind: Kustomization
@@ -328,9 +328,7 @@ kind: Kustomization
 	}
 	expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/alpha/beta", targetAndUnreferenced)
 
-	err := Run("/alpha/beta", "/alpha", "/beta", actual)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, actual, "/alpha/beta", "/alpha", "/beta")
 	addFiles(t, expected, "/beta/beta", map[string]string{
 		"kustomization.yaml": targetAndUnreferenced["kustomization.yaml"],
 		"env":                targetAndUnreferenced["env"],
@@ -586,7 +584,7 @@ patches:
 	}
 	expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/a/b", kustAndPatch)
 
-	err := Run("/a/b", "", "/dst", actual)
+	_, err := Run("/a/b", "", "/dst", actual)
 	require.EqualError(t, err, `unable to localize target "/a/b": unable to localize patches: invalid file reference: '/a/b/name-DNE.yaml' doesn't exist`)
 
 	checkFSys(t, expected, actual)
@@ -710,9 +708,7 @@ transformers:
 	}
 	expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/a", kustAndPlugins)
 
-	err := Run("/a", "", "/dst", actual)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, actual, "/a", "/a", "/dst")
 	addFiles(t, expected, "/dst", map[string]string{
 		"kustomization.yaml": kustAndPlugins["kustomization.yaml"],
 		"patch.yaml":         fmt.Sprintf(patchf, "patchSM.yaml"),
@@ -971,7 +967,7 @@ metadata:
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/", test.files)
 
-			err := Run("/", "", "/dst", actual)
+			_, err := Run("/", "", "/dst", actual)
 
 			var actualErr ResourceLoadError
 			require.ErrorAs(t, err, &actualErr)
@@ -1025,7 +1021,7 @@ func TestLocalizeBuiltinPlugins_Errors(t *testing.T) {
 	} {
 		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/a", test.files)
-			err := Run("/a", "", "/dst", actual)
+			_, err := Run("/a", "", "/dst", actual)
 			const errPrefix = `unable to localize target "/a"`
 			require.EqualError(t, err, fmt.Sprintf(
 				"%s: %s: %s", errPrefix, test.fieldSpecErr, test.locErr))
@@ -1145,9 +1141,7 @@ namespace: kustomize-namespace
 	}
 	expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/alpha", kustAndComponents)
 
-	err := Run("/alpha/beta/gamma", "/alpha", "/alpha/beta/dst", actual)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, actual, "/alpha/beta/gamma", "/alpha", "/alpha/beta/dst")
 	cleanedFiles := map[string]string{
 		"beta/gamma/kustomization.yaml": `apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
 components:
@@ -1210,9 +1204,7 @@ namePrefix: my-
 	}
 	expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/a/b", kustAndResources)
 
-	err := Run("/a/b", "/", "", actual)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, actual, "/a/b", "/", "/localized-b")
 	addFiles(t, expected, "/localized-b/a/b", kustAndResources)
 	checkFSys(t, expected, actual)
 }
@@ -1227,7 +1219,7 @@ resources:
 	}
 	expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/a", kustAndResources)
 
-	err := Run("/a", "/", "", actual)
+	_, err := Run("/a", "/", "", actual)
 
 	const expectedFileErr = `invalid file reference: '/a/b' must resolve to a file`
 	const expectedRootErr = `unable to localize root "b": unable to find one of 'kustomization.yaml', 'kustomization.yml' or 'Kustomization' in directory '/a/b'`
@@ -1324,9 +1316,7 @@ func TestLocalizeHelmChartsNoDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/a", files)
 
-	err := Run("/a", "", "/dst", actual)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, actual, "/a", "/a", "/dst")
 	addFiles(t, expected, "/dst", map[string]string{
 		"kustomization.yaml":    files["kustomization.yaml"],
 		"home/name/values.yaml": valuesFile,
@@ -1440,9 +1430,7 @@ helmGlobals:
 		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/a/b", test.files)
 
-			err := Run("/a/b", "/a/b", "/dst", actual)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-
+			checkRun(t, actual, "/a/b", "/a/b", "/dst")
 			addFiles(t, expected, "/dst", test.copiedFiles)
 			checkFSys(t, expected, actual)
 		})
@@ -1459,9 +1447,7 @@ func TestCopyChartHomeEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, actual.Mkdir("/a/home"))
 	require.NoError(t, expected.Mkdir("/a/home"))
 
-	err := Run("/a", "", "/dst", actual)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, actual, "/a", "/a", "/dst")
 	addFiles(t, expected, "/dst", kustomization)
 	require.NoError(t, expected.Mkdir("/dst/home"))
 	checkFSys(t, expected, actual)
@@ -1503,7 +1489,7 @@ func TestCopyChartHomeError(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/", test.files)
 
-			err := Run("/a/b", "/a", "/dst", actual)
+			_, err := Run("/a/b", "/a", "/dst", actual)
 			const prefix = `unable to localize target "/a/b"`
 			require.EqualError(t, err, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", prefix, test.err))
 
@@ -1558,9 +1544,7 @@ metadata:
 	}
 	expected, actual := makeFileSystems(t, "/a", files)
 
-	err := Run("/a", "", "/dst", actual)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
+	checkRun(t, actual, "/a", "/a", "/dst")
 	addFiles(t, expected, "/dst", map[string]string{
 		"kustomization.yaml": files["kustomization.yaml"],
 		"configMap.yaml":     files["configMap.yaml"],
diff --git a/api/krusty/localizer/runner.go b/api/krusty/localizer/runner.go
index a6d831d0e..44d2a02c2 100644
--- a/api/krusty/localizer/runner.go
+++ b/api/krusty/localizer/runner.go
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/filesys"
 )
 
-// Run `kustomize localize`s files referenced by kustomization target in scope to destination newDir on fSys.
-func Run(fSys filesys.FileSystem, target, scope, newDir string) error {
-	return errors.Wrap(localizer.Run(target, scope, newDir, fSys))
+// Run executes `kustomize localize` on fSys given the `localize` arguments and
+// returns the path to the created newDir.
+func Run(fSys filesys.FileSystem, target, scope, newDir string) (string, error) {
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(target, scope, newDir, fSys)
+	return dst, errors.Wrap(err)
 }
diff --git a/api/krusty/localizer/runner_test.go b/api/krusty/localizer/runner_test.go
index 2472b726d..faef9648c 100644
--- a/api/krusty/localizer/runner_test.go
+++ b/api/krusty/localizer/runner_test.go
@@ -264,10 +264,11 @@ func TestWorkingDir(t *testing.T) {
 	fsExpected, fsActual, wd := PrepareFs(t, []string{"target", "base"}, files)
 	SetWorkingDir(t, wd.String())
 
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, "target", ".", "")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, "target", ".", "")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, wd.Join("localized-target"), dst)
 
-	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, wd.Join("localized-target"), files)
+	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, dst, files)
 	CheckFs(t, wd.String(), fsExpected, fsActual)
 }
 
@@ -301,10 +302,10 @@ func TestLoaderSymlinks(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	SetWorkingDir(t, testDir.String())
 
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, "target-link", "target", "")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, "target-link", "target", "")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, testDir.Join("localized-target"), dst)
 
-	dst := testDir.Join("localized-target")
 	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, dst, map[string]string{
 		"kustomization.yaml": fmt.Sprintf(`resources:
 - %s
@@ -322,10 +323,10 @@ func TestRemoteTargetDefaultDst(t *testing.T) {
 	SetWorkingDir(t, testDir.String())
 
 	const target = simpleURL + urlQuery
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, target, "", "")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, target, "", "")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, testDir.Join("localized-simple-kustomize-v4.5.7"), dst)
 
-	dst := testDir.Join("localized-simple-kustomize-v4.5.7")
 	_, files := simplePathAndFiles(t)
 	SetupDir(t, fsExpected,
 		filepath.Join(dst, "api", "krusty", "testdata", "localize", "simple"),
@@ -364,7 +365,7 @@ func TestBadArgs(t *testing.T) {
 			fsExpected, fsActual, testDir := PrepareFs(t, nil, kust)
 			SetWorkingDir(t, testDir.String())
 
-			err := localizer.Run(fsActual, test.target, test.scope, test.dst)
+			_, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, test.target, test.scope, test.dst)
 			require.EqualError(t, err, test.err)
 
 			SetupDir(t, fsExpected, testDir.String(), kust)
@@ -383,9 +384,10 @@ openapi:
 		"kustomization.yaml": fmt.Sprintf(kustf, `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/kustomize/v4.5.7/api/krusty/testdata/customschema.json`),
 	})
 
-	dst := testDir.Join("dst")
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", dst)
+	newDir := testDir.Join("dst")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", newDir)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, newDir, dst)
 
 	localizedPath := filepath.Join(LocalizeDir, "raw.githubusercontent.com",
 		"kubernetes-sigs", "kustomize", "kustomize", "v4.5.7", "api", "krusty",
@@ -404,9 +406,10 @@ func TestRemoteRoot(t *testing.T) {
 `, simpleURL+urlQuery),
 	})
 
-	dst := testDir.Join("dst")
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", dst)
+	newDir := testDir.Join("dst")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", newDir)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, newDir, dst)
 
 	localizedPath, files := simplePathAndFiles(t)
 	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, dst, map[string]string{
@@ -427,9 +430,10 @@ func TestNestedRemoteRoots(t *testing.T) {
 `,
 	})
 
-	dst := testDir.Join("dst")
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", dst)
+	newDir := testDir.Join("dst")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", newDir)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, newDir, dst)
 
 	localizedPath, files := remotePathAndFiles(t)
 	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, dst, map[string]string{
@@ -450,7 +454,7 @@ func TestResourcesRepoNotFile(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	fsExpected, fsActual, testDir := PrepareFs(t, nil, kustomization)
 
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", testDir.Join("dst"))
+	_, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", testDir.Join("dst"))
 
 	fileErr := fmt.Sprintf(`invalid resource at file "%s": MalformedYAMLError`, repo)
 	rootErr := fmt.Sprintf(`unable to localize root "%s": unable to find one of 'kustomization.yaml', 'kustomization.yml' or 'Kustomization'`, repo)
@@ -473,7 +477,7 @@ func TestRemoteRootNoRef(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	fsExpected, fsActual, testDir := PrepareFs(t, nil, kustomization)
 
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", testDir.Join("dst"))
+	_, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", testDir.Join("dst"))
 
 	const fileErr = "invalid file reference: URL is a git repository"
 	rootErr := fmt.Sprintf(`localize remote root "%s" missing ref query string parameter`, root)
@@ -497,7 +501,7 @@ func TestExistingCacheDir(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	fsExpected, fsActual, testDir := PrepareFs(t, []string{LocalizeDir}, file)
 
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", testDir.Join("dst"))
+	_, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", testDir.Join("dst"))
 	require.ErrorContains(t, err, fmt.Sprintf(`already contains localized-files needed to store file "%s"`, remoteFile))
 
 	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, testDir.String(), file)
@@ -518,9 +522,10 @@ minecraftServer:
 		filepath.Join("nested", "dirs", "home", "name"),
 	}, files)
 
-	dst := testDir.Join("dst")
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", dst)
+	newDir := testDir.Join("dst")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.String(), "", newDir)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, newDir, dst)
 
 	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, dst, files)
 	CheckFs(t, dst, fsExpected, fsActual)
@@ -553,9 +558,10 @@ helmGlobals:
 		filepath.Join("target", "home-link"): "home",
 	})
 
-	dst := scope.Join("dst")
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, scope.Join("target"), scope.String(), dst)
+	newDir := scope.Join("dst")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, scope.Join("target"), scope.String(), newDir)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, newDir, dst)
 
 	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, dst, map[string]string{
 		filepath.Join("target", "Kustomization"): fmt.Sprintf(`helmCharts:
@@ -592,9 +598,10 @@ helmChartInflationGenerator:
 	})
 	link(t, target, map[string]string{"charts": "home"})
 
-	dst := target.Join("dst")
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, target.String(), "", dst)
+	newDir := target.Join("dst")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, target.String(), "", newDir)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, newDir, dst)
 
 	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, dst, map[string]string{
 		"kustomization.yaml": `helmChartInflationGenerator:
@@ -632,9 +639,10 @@ func TestHelmHomeEscapesScope(t *testing.T) {
 		filepath.Join("target", "home", "file-link"): "file",
 	})
 
-	dst := testDir.Join("dst")
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.Join("target"), "", dst)
+	newDir := testDir.Join("dst")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, testDir.Join("target"), "", newDir)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, newDir, dst)
 
 	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, dst, map[string]string{
 		"kustomization.yaml": `helmGlobals:
@@ -661,9 +669,10 @@ func TestSymlinkedFileSource(t *testing.T) {
 		"filename-used-as-key-in-configMap": "different-key",
 	})
 
-	dst := target.Join("dst")
-	err := localizer.Run(fsActual, target.String(), "", dst)
+	newDir := target.Join("dst")
+	dst, err := localizer.Run(fsActual, target.String(), "", newDir)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, newDir, dst)
 
 	SetupDir(t, fsExpected, dst, map[string]string{
 		"kustomization.yaml": `configMapGenerator: