diff --git a/test/e2e_node/util.go b/test/e2e_node/util.go
index d98f8325f09..8c2a15bbb04 100644
--- a/test/e2e_node/util.go
+++ b/test/e2e_node/util.go
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 func performContainerRuntimeUnitOp(op containerRuntimeUnitOp) error {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Minute)
 	defer cancel()
 
 	conn, err := dbus.NewWithContext(ctx)
@@ -409,12 +409,13 @@ func performContainerRuntimeUnitOp(op containerRuntimeUnitOp) error {
 
 	switch op {
 	case startContainerRuntimeUnitOp:
-		conn.StartUnitContext(ctx, containerRuntimeUnitName, "replace", reschan)
+		_, err = conn.StartUnitContext(ctx, containerRuntimeUnitName, "replace", reschan)
 	case stopContainerRuntimeUnitOp:
-		conn.StopUnitContext(ctx, containerRuntimeUnitName, "replace", reschan)
+		_, err = conn.StopUnitContext(ctx, containerRuntimeUnitName, "replace", reschan)
 	default:
 		framework.Failf("Unexpected container runtime op: %v", op)
 	}
+	framework.ExpectNoError(err, "dbus connection error")
 
 	job := <-reschan
 	framework.ExpectEqual(job, "done", "Expected job to complete with done")