diff --git a/cluster/gce/config-default.sh b/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
index 5d3f74de520..b1ab40d6eda 100755
--- a/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ KUBE_DELETE_NODES=${KUBE_DELETE_NODES:-true}
 KUBE_DELETE_NETWORK=${KUBE_DELETE_NETWORK:-false}
 
 MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-gci}}
-NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-debian}}
+NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-gci}}
 if [[ "${MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION}" == "coreos" ]]; then
     MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION="container-linux"
 fi