diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go b/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go
index 970ec152fd4..1b4a19445f4 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
 	"github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2/types"
+	"github.com/onsi/gomega"
 	gomegaformat "github.com/onsi/gomega/format"
 
 	restclient "k8s.io/client-go/rest"
@@ -472,6 +473,15 @@ func AfterReadingAllFlags(t *TestContextType) {
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
 
+	// Reconfigure gomega defaults. The poll interval should be suitable
+	// for most tests. The timeouts are more subjective and tests may want
+	// to override them, but these defaults are still better for E2E than the
+	// ones from Gomega (1s timeout, 10ms interval).
+	gomega.SetDefaultEventuallyPollingInterval(t.timeouts.Poll)
+	gomega.SetDefaultConsistentlyPollingInterval(t.timeouts.Poll)
+	gomega.SetDefaultEventuallyTimeout(t.timeouts.PodStart)
+	gomega.SetDefaultConsistentlyDuration(t.timeouts.PodStartShort)
+
 	// Only set a default host if one won't be supplied via kubeconfig
 	if len(t.Host) == 0 && len(t.KubeConfig) == 0 {
 		// Check if we can use the in-cluster config
diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/timeouts.go b/test/e2e/framework/timeouts.go
index 99fc8b9adfa..5cfc29edba3 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/timeouts.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/timeouts.go
@@ -47,10 +47,12 @@ type TimeoutContext struct {
 	Poll time.Duration
 
 	// PodStart is how long to wait for the pod to be started.
+	// This value is the default for gomega.Eventually.
 	PodStart time.Duration
 
 	// PodStartShort is same as `PodStart`, but shorter.
 	// Use it in a case-by-case basis, mostly when you are sure pod start will not be delayed.
+	// This value is the default for gomega.Consistently.
 	PodStartShort time.Duration
 
 	// PodStartSlow is same as `PodStart`, but longer.
@@ -118,6 +120,8 @@ func NewTimeoutContext() *TimeoutContext {
 
 // PollInterval defines how long to wait between API server queries while
 // waiting for some condition.
+//
+// This value is the default for gomega.Eventually and gomega.Consistently.
 func PollInterval() time.Duration {
 	return TestContext.timeouts.Poll
 }