diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/util.go b/test/e2e/framework/util.go
index 8320c0519d1..d9e64d7c4e9 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/util.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/util.go
@@ -3419,8 +3419,8 @@ func IssueSSHCommandWithResult(cmd, provider string, node *v1.Node) (*SSHResult,
 	LogSSHResult(result)
 
 	if result.Code != 0 || err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed running %q: %v (exit code %d)",
-			cmd, err, result.Code)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed running %q: %v (exit code %d, stderr %v)",
+			cmd, err, result.Code, result.Stderr)
 	}
 
 	return &result, nil
diff --git a/test/e2e/network/kube_proxy.go b/test/e2e/network/kube_proxy.go
index 01a69f90f8e..9cf7acf0399 100644
--- a/test/e2e/network/kube_proxy.go
+++ b/test/e2e/network/kube_proxy.go
@@ -77,6 +77,16 @@ var _ = SIGDescribe("Network", func() {
 
 		zero := int64(0)
 
+		// Some distributions (Ubuntu 16.04 etc.) don't support the proc file.
+		_, err := framework.IssueSSHCommandWithResult(
+			"ls /proc/net/nf_conntrack",
+			framework.TestContext.Provider,
+			clientNodeInfo.node)
+		if err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "No such file or directory") {
+			framework.Skipf("The node %s does not support /proc/net/nf_conntrack", clientNodeInfo.name)
+		}
+		framework.ExpectNoError(err)
+
 		clientPodSpec := &v1.Pod{
 			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 				Name:      "e2e-net-client",