diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/volume_util.go b/test/e2e/framework/volume_util.go
index 84214a15ab4..08d392b3a2b 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/volume_util.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/volume_util.go
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ const (
 	MiB int64 = 1024 * KiB
 	GiB int64 = 1024 * MiB
 	TiB int64 = 1024 * GiB
+
+	// Waiting period for volume server (Ceph, ...) to initialize itself.
+	VolumeServerPodStartupSleep = 20 * time.Second
 )
 
 // Configuration of one tests. The test consist of:
@@ -196,6 +199,14 @@ func NewRBDServer(cs clientset.Interface, namespace string) (config VolumeTestCo
 		},
 	}
 	pod, ip = CreateStorageServer(cs, config)
+
+	// Ceph server container needs some time to start. Tests continue working if
+	// this sleep is removed, however kubelet logs (and kubectl describe
+	// <client pod>) would be cluttered with error messages about non-existing
+	// image.
+	Logf("sleeping a bit to give ceph server time to initialize")
+	time.Sleep(VolumeServerPodStartupSleep)
+
 	return config, pod, ip
 }
 
diff --git a/test/e2e/storage/volumes.go b/test/e2e/storage/volumes.go
index f3bfc0f2be4..c8b505fb360 100644
--- a/test/e2e/storage/volumes.go
+++ b/test/e2e/storage/volumes.go
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ var _ = SIGDescribe("Volumes", func() {
 			}()
 			_, serverIP := framework.CreateStorageServer(cs, config)
 			By("sleeping a bit to give ceph server time to initialize")
-			time.Sleep(20 * time.Second)
+			time.Sleep(framework.VolumeServerPodStartupSleep)
 
 			// create ceph secret
 			secret := &v1.Secret{