diff --git a/test/e2e/e2e.go b/test/e2e/e2e.go
index 6400fc544ff..8876bcd7718 100644
--- a/test/e2e/e2e.go
+++ b/test/e2e/e2e.go
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ func setupProviderConfig() error {
 		if !framework.TestContext.CloudConfig.MultiZone {
 			managedZones = []string{zone}
 		}
-		cloudConfig.Provider, err = gcecloud.CreateGCECloud(framework.TestContext.CloudConfig.ApiEndpoint,
+
+		gceCloud, err := gcecloud.CreateGCECloud(framework.TestContext.CloudConfig.ApiEndpoint,
 			framework.TestContext.CloudConfig.ProjectID,
 			region, zone, managedZones, "" /* networkUrl */, "" /* subnetworkUrl */, nil, /* nodeTags */
 			"" /* nodeInstancePerfix */, nil /* tokenSource */, false /* useMetadataServer */)
@@ -85,6 +86,17 @@ func setupProviderConfig() error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("Error building GCE/GKE provider: %v", err)
 		}
 
+		cloudConfig.Provider = gceCloud
+
+		if cloudConfig.Zone == "" && framework.TestContext.CloudConfig.MultiZone {
+			zones, err := gceCloud.GetAllZones()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			cloudConfig.Zone, _ = zones.PopAny()
+		}
+
 	case "aws":
 		if cloudConfig.Zone == "" {
 			return fmt.Errorf("gce-zone must be specified for AWS")
diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go b/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go
index 0883eb128ae..309a372b63c 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/test_context.go
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ type NodeTestContextType struct {
 type CloudConfig struct {
 	ApiEndpoint       string
 	ProjectID         string
-	Zone              string
+	Zone              string // for multizone tests, arbitrarily chosen zone
 	Region            string
 	MultiZone         bool
 	Cluster           string