diff --git a/test/e2e_node/runner/remote/run_remote.go b/test/e2e_node/runner/remote/run_remote.go
index cbaa9710b2a..b1fdc5f9b00 100644
--- a/test/e2e_node/runner/remote/run_remote.go
+++ b/test/e2e_node/runner/remote/run_remote.go
@@ -668,14 +668,15 @@ func createInstance(imageConfig *internalGCEImage) (string, error) {
 
 		var output string
 		output, err = remote.SSH(name, "sh", "-c",
-			"'systemctl list-units  --type=service  --state=running | grep -e docker -e containerd'")
+			"'systemctl list-units  --type=service  --state=running | grep -e docker -e containerd -e crio'")
 		if err != nil {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("instance %s not running docker/containerd daemon - Command failed: %s", name, output)
+			err = fmt.Errorf("instance %s not running docker/containerd/crio daemon - Command failed: %s", name, output)
 			continue
 		}
 		if !strings.Contains(output, "docker.service") &&
-			!strings.Contains(output, "containerd.service") {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("instance %s not running docker/containerd daemon: %s", name, output)
+			!strings.Contains(output, "containerd.service") &&
+			!strings.Contains(output, "crio.service") {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("instance %s not running docker/containerd/crio daemon: %s", name, output)
 			continue
 		}
 		instanceRunning = true