diff --git a/test/e2e/e2e.go b/test/e2e/e2e.go
index a37a6f13d14..262069829a8 100644
--- a/test/e2e/e2e.go
+++ b/test/e2e/e2e.go
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ func setupSuite(ctx context.Context) {
 	// #41007. To avoid those pods preventing the whole test runs (and just
 	// wasting the whole run), we allow for some not-ready pods (with the
 	// number equal to the number of allowed not-ready nodes).
-	if err := e2epod.WaitForPodsRunningReady(ctx, c, metav1.NamespaceSystem, int32(framework.TestContext.MinStartupPods), int32(framework.TestContext.AllowedNotReadyNodes), timeouts.SystemPodsStartup); err != nil {
+	if err := e2epod.WaitForAlmostAllPodsReady(ctx, c, metav1.NamespaceSystem, framework.TestContext.MinStartupPods, framework.TestContext.AllowedNotReadyNodes, timeouts.SystemPodsStartup); err != nil {
 		e2edebug.DumpAllNamespaceInfo(ctx, c, metav1.NamespaceSystem)
 		e2ekubectl.LogFailedContainers(ctx, c, metav1.NamespaceSystem, framework.Logf)
 		framework.Failf("Error waiting for all pods to be running and ready: %v", err)