diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go b/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go
index 460ac7572e3..936d9d2ca13 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ func RegisterClusterFlags() {
 	flag.BoolVar(&TestContext.VerifyServiceAccount, "e2e-verify-service-account", true, "If true tests will verify the service account before running.")
 	flag.StringVar(&TestContext.KubeConfig, clientcmd.RecommendedConfigPathFlag, os.Getenv(clientcmd.RecommendedConfigPathEnvVar), "Path to kubeconfig containing embedded authinfo.")
 	flag.StringVar(&TestContext.KubeContext, clientcmd.FlagContext, "", "kubeconfig context to use/override. If unset, will use value from 'current-context'")
-	flag.StringVar(&TestContext.KubeAPIContentType, "kube-api-content-type", "", "ContentType used to communicate with apiserver")
+	flag.StringVar(&TestContext.KubeAPIContentType, "kube-api-content-type", "application/vnd.kubernetes.protobuf", "ContentType used to communicate with apiserver")
 	flag.StringVar(&federatedKubeContext, "federated-kube-context", "federation-cluster", "kubeconfig context for federation-cluster.")
 
 	flag.StringVar(&TestContext.KubeVolumeDir, "volume-dir", "/var/lib/kubelet", "Path to the directory containing the kubelet volumes.")