diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/util.go b/test/e2e/framework/util.go
index d7ae4971c8c..293632a72de 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/util.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/util.go
@@ -2786,7 +2786,8 @@ func (config *RCConfig) start() error {
 // Simplified version of RunRC, that does not create RC, but creates plain Pods.
 // Optionally waits for pods to start running (if waitForRunning == true).
 // The number of replicas must be non-zero.
-func StartPods(c *client.Client, replicas int, namespace string, podNamePrefix string, pod api.Pod, waitForRunning bool) {
+func StartPods(c *client.Client, replicas int, namespace string, podNamePrefix string,
+	pod api.Pod, waitForRunning bool, logFunc func(fmt string, args ...interface{})) error {
 	// no pod to start
 	if replicas < 1 {
 		panic("StartPods: number of replicas must be non-zero")
@@ -2799,14 +2800,15 @@ func StartPods(c *client.Client, replicas int, namespace string, podNamePrefix s
 		pod.ObjectMeta.Labels["startPodsID"] = startPodsID
 		pod.Spec.Containers[0].Name = podName
 		_, err := c.Pods(namespace).Create(&pod)
-		ExpectNoError(err)
+		return err
 	}
-	Logf("Waiting for running...")
+	logFunc("Waiting for running...")
 	if waitForRunning {
 		label := labels.SelectorFromSet(labels.Set(map[string]string{"startPodsID": startPodsID}))
 		err := WaitForPodsWithLabelRunning(c, namespace, label)
-		ExpectNoError(err, "Error waiting for %d pods to be running - probably a timeout", replicas)
+		return fmt.Errorf("Error waiting for %d pods to be running - probably a timeout: %v", replicas, err)
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 type EventsLister func(opts v1.ListOptions, ns string) (*v1.EventList, error)
diff --git a/test/e2e/scheduler_predicates.go b/test/e2e/scheduler_predicates.go
index fe96f77fc9d..3c23fecbb73 100644
--- a/test/e2e/scheduler_predicates.go
+++ b/test/e2e/scheduler_predicates.go
@@ -126,11 +126,11 @@ var _ = framework.KubeDescribe("SchedulerPredicates [Serial]", func() {
 		// and there is no need to create additional pods.
 		// StartPods requires at least one pod to replicate.
 		if podsNeededForSaturation > 0 {
-			framework.StartPods(c, podsNeededForSaturation, ns, "maxp",
+			framework.ExpectNoError(framework.StartPods(c, podsNeededForSaturation, ns, "maxp",
 				*initPausePod(f, pausePodConfig{
 					Name:   "",
 					Labels: map[string]string{"name": ""},
-				}), true)
+				}), true, framework.Logf))
 		}
 		podName := "additional-pod"
 		createPausePod(f, pausePodConfig{
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ var _ = framework.KubeDescribe("SchedulerPredicates [Serial]", func() {
 		// and there is no need to create additional pods.
 		// StartPods requires at least one pod to replicate.
 		if podsNeededForSaturation > 0 {
-			framework.StartPods(c, podsNeededForSaturation, ns, "overcommit",
+			framework.ExpectNoError(framework.StartPods(c, podsNeededForSaturation, ns, "overcommit",
 				*initPausePod(f, pausePodConfig{
 					Name:   "",
 					Labels: map[string]string{"name": ""},
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ var _ = framework.KubeDescribe("SchedulerPredicates [Serial]", func() {
 							"cpu": *resource.NewMilliQuantity(milliCpuPerPod, "DecimalSI"),
 						},
 					},
-				}), true)
+				}), true, framework.Logf))
 		}
 		podName := "additional-pod"
 		createPausePod(f, pausePodConfig{
diff --git a/test/e2e/ubernetes_lite.go b/test/e2e/ubernetes_lite.go
index db4ce08660b..37c34930e42 100644
--- a/test/e2e/ubernetes_lite.go
+++ b/test/e2e/ubernetes_lite.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func SpreadServiceOrFail(f *framework.Framework, replicaCount int, image string)
 	// Based on the callers, replicas is always positive number: zoneCount >= 0 implies (2*zoneCount)+1 > 0.
 	// Thus, no need to test for it. Once the precondition changes to zero number of replicas,
 	// test for replicaCount > 0. Otherwise, StartPods panics.
-	framework.StartPods(f.Client, replicaCount, f.Namespace.Name, serviceName, *podSpec, false)
+	framework.ExpectNoError(framework.StartPods(f.Client, replicaCount, f.Namespace.Name, serviceName, *podSpec, false, framework.Logf))
 
 	// Wait for all of them to be scheduled
 	selector := labels.SelectorFromSet(labels.Set(map[string]string{"service": serviceName}))