diff --git a/cluster/gce/config-default.sh b/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
index d445e05c463..01d862e9654 100755
--- a/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ KUBE_DELETE_NODES=${KUBE_DELETE_NODES:-true}
 KUBE_DELETE_NETWORK=${KUBE_DELETE_NETWORK:-false}
 
 MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-gci}}
-NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-gci}}
+NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-debian}}
 # By default a cluster will be started with the master on GCI and nodes on
 # containervm. If you are updating the containervm version, update this
 # variable. Also please update corresponding image for node e2e at:
diff --git a/cluster/gce/config-test.sh b/cluster/gce/config-test.sh
index 2835c6853d7..c44989bd76c 100755
--- a/cluster/gce/config-test.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/config-test.sh
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ KUBE_DELETE_NODES=${KUBE_DELETE_NODES:-true}
 KUBE_DELETE_NETWORK=${KUBE_DELETE_NETWORK:-true}
 
 MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-gci}}
-NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-gci}}
+NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-debian}}
 # By default a cluster will be started with the master on GCI and nodes on
 # containervm. If you are updating the containervm version, update this
 # variable. Also please update corresponding image for node e2e at: