diff --git a/test/e2e/common/pods.go b/test/e2e/common/pods.go
index 1b14332bcaa..c3342f9d809 100644
--- a/test/e2e/common/pods.go
+++ b/test/e2e/common/pods.go
@@ -523,7 +523,13 @@ var _ = framework.KubeDescribe("Pods", func() {
 					continue
 				}
 				if msg[0] != 1 {
-					framework.Failf("Got message from server that didn't start with channel 1 (STDOUT): %v", msg)
+					if len(msg) == 1 {
+						// skip an empty message on stream other than stdout
+						continue
+					} else {
+						framework.Failf("Got message from server that didn't start with channel 1 (STDOUT): %v", msg)
+					}
+
 				}
 				buf.Write(msg[1:])
 			}