diff --git a/kubernetes/client/rest.py b/kubernetes/client/rest.py
--- a/kubernetes/client/rest.py
+++ b/kubernetes/client/rest.py
@@ -223,4 +223,13 @@ class RESTClientObject:
                 content_type = headers.get('Content-Type')
+                # JSON Patch is a list of operations; object patches for built-in
+                # APIs use strategic merge:
+                # https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/using-api/api-concepts/#updates-to-existing-resources
+                if (
+                    content_type == 'application/json-patch+json'
+                    and not isinstance(body, list)
+                ):
+                    headers['Content-Type'] = content_type = \
+                        'application/strategic-merge-patch+json'
                 is_json = (
                     not content_type
                     or re.search('json', content_type, re.IGNORECASE)