diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/pod/resource.go b/test/e2e/framework/pod/resource.go
index 2e945f9ba13..f0be44767fa 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/pod/resource.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/pod/resource.go
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ func CreateExecPodOrFail(client clientset.Interface, ns, generateName string, tw
 		}
 		return retrievedPod.Status.Phase == v1.PodRunning, nil
 	})
-	expectNoError(err)
+	expectNoError(err, "failed to create new exec pod in namespace: %s", ns)
 	return execPod
 }