diff --git a/test/e2e_node/services/kubelet.go b/test/e2e_node/services/kubelet.go
index 7a917bc5778..1b35e1a35ab 100644
--- a/test/e2e_node/services/kubelet.go
+++ b/test/e2e_node/services/kubelet.go
@@ -63,9 +63,13 @@ func (a *args) Set(value string) error {
 
 // kubeletArgs is the override kubelet args specified by the test runner.
 var kubeletArgs args
+var kubeletConfigFile = "./kubeletconfig.yaml"
 
 func init() {
 	flag.Var(&kubeletArgs, "kubelet-flags", "Kubelet flags passed to kubelet, this will override default kubelet flags in the test. Flags specified in multiple kubelet-flags will be concatenate. Deprecated, see: --kubelet-config-file.")
+	if flag.Lookup("kubelet-config-file") == nil {
+		flag.StringVar(&kubeletConfigFile, "kubelet-config-file", kubeletConfigFile, "The base KubeletConfiguration to use when setting up the kubelet. This configuration will then be minimially modified to support requirements from the test suite.")
+	}
 }
 
 // RunKubelet starts kubelet and waits for termination signal. Once receives the
@@ -181,7 +185,6 @@ func (e *E2EServices) startKubelet(featureGates map[string]bool) (*server, error
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	kubeletConfigFile := "./kubeletconfig.yaml"
 	lookup := flag.Lookup("kubelet-config-file")
 	if lookup != nil {
 		kubeletConfigFile = lookup.Value.String()