diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/nodes_util.go b/test/e2e/framework/nodes_util.go
index 8ab6e9defe7..c3670be97e7 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/nodes_util.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/nodes_util.go
@@ -114,10 +114,14 @@ func masterUpgradeKubernetesAnywhere(v string) error {
 	backupConfigPath := filepath.Join(kaPath, ".config.bak")
 	updatedConfigPath := filepath.Join(kaPath, fmt.Sprintf(".config-%s", v))
 
-	// backup .config to .config.bak
-	if err := os.Rename(originalConfigPath, backupConfigPath); err != nil {
+	// modify config with specified k8s version
+	if _, _, err := RunCmd("sed",
+		"-i.bak", // writes original to .config.bak
+		fmt.Sprintf(`s/kubernetes_version=.*$/kubernetes_version=%s/`, v),
+		originalConfigPath); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
 	defer func() {
 		// revert .config.bak to .config
 		if err := os.Rename(backupConfigPath, originalConfigPath); err != nil {
@@ -125,13 +129,6 @@ func masterUpgradeKubernetesAnywhere(v string) error {
 		}
 	}()
 
-	// modify config with specified k8s version
-	if _, _, err := RunCmd("sed",
-		fmt.Sprintf(`s/kubernetes_version=.*$/kubernetes_version=%s/`, v),
-		backupConfigPath, ">", originalConfigPath); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	// invoke ka upgrade
 	if _, _, err := RunCmd("make", "-C", TestContext.KubernetesAnywherePath,
 		"WAIT_FOR_KUBECONFIG=y", "upgrade-master"); err != nil {