diff --git a/cluster/gce/gci/configure.sh b/cluster/gce/gci/configure.sh
index ca1b5964751..d2e6500c5ca 100644
--- a/cluster/gce/gci/configure.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/gci/configure.sh
@@ -376,16 +376,7 @@ function try-load-docker-image {
   set +e
   local -r max_attempts=5
   local -i attempt_num=1
-
-  if [[ "${CONTAINER_RUNTIME_NAME:-}" == "docker" ]]; then
-    load_image_command=${LOAD_IMAGE_COMMAND:-docker load -i}
-  elif [[ "${CONTAINER_RUNTIME_NAME:-}" == "containerd" ]]; then
-    load_image_command=${LOAD_IMAGE_COMMAND:-ctr -n=k8s.io images import}
-  else
-    load_image_command="${LOAD_IMAGE_COMMAND:-}"
-  fi
-
-  until timeout 30 ${load_image_command} "${img}"; do
+  until timeout 30 ${LOAD_IMAGE_COMMAND:-docker load -i} "${img}"; do
     if [[ "${attempt_num}" == "${max_attempts}" ]]; then
       echo "Fail to load docker image file ${img} after ${max_attempts} retries. Exit!!"
       exit 1
diff --git a/test/e2e_node/runner/remote/run_remote.go b/test/e2e_node/runner/remote/run_remote.go
index 3ade67ac01d..8da01362873 100644
--- a/test/e2e_node/runner/remote/run_remote.go
+++ b/test/e2e_node/runner/remote/run_remote.go
@@ -668,13 +668,15 @@ func createInstance(imageConfig *internalGCEImage) (string, error) {
 		// TODO(random-liu): Remove the docker version check. Use some other command to check
 		// instance readiness.
 		var output string
-		output, err = remote.SSH(name, "docker", "version")
+		output, err = remote.SSH(name, "sh", "-c",
+			"'systemctl list-units  --type=service  --state=running | grep -e docker -e containerd'")
 		if err != nil {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("instance %s not running docker daemon - Command failed: %s", name, output)
+			err = fmt.Errorf("instance %s not running docker/containerd daemon - Command failed: %s", name, output)
 			continue
 		}
-		if !strings.Contains(output, "Server") {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("instance %s not running docker daemon - Server not found: %s", name, output)
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "docker.service") &&
+			!strings.Contains(output, "containerd.service") {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("instance %s not running docker/containerd daemon: %s", name, output)
 			continue
 		}
 		instanceRunning = true