diff --git a/test/e2e_node/kubelet_config_dir_test.go b/test/e2e_node/kubelet_config_dir_test.go
index b80099858af..1d541afb17a 100644
--- a/test/e2e_node/kubelet_config_dir_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e_node/kubelet_config_dir_test.go
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ clusterDNS:
 - 192.168.1.5
 - 192.168.1.8
 port: 8080
-cpuManagerReconcilePeriod: 0s
+cpuManagerReconcilePeriod: 1s
 systemReserved:
   memory: 2Gi
 authorization:
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ featureGates:
 			}
 			initialConfig.ClusterDNS = []string{"192.168.1.1", "192.168.1.5", "192.168.1.8"} // overridden by slice in second file.
 			// This value was explicitly set in the drop-in, make sure it is retained
-			initialConfig.CPUManagerReconcilePeriod = metav1.Duration{Duration: time.Duration(0)}
+			initialConfig.CPUManagerReconcilePeriod = metav1.Duration{Duration: time.Second}
 			// Meanwhile, this value was not explicitly set, but could have been overridden by a "default" of 0 for the type.
 			// Ensure the true default persists.
 			initialConfig.CPUCFSQuotaPeriod = metav1.Duration{Duration: time.Duration(100000000)}