diff --git a/test/e2e_node/remote/ssh.go b/test/e2e_node/remote/ssh.go
index f1ff1a3b765..e1d7cbb4ed3 100644
--- a/test/e2e_node/remote/ssh.go
+++ b/test/e2e_node/remote/ssh.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package remote
 import (
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"os/user"
 	"strings"
@@ -68,6 +69,11 @@ func GetHostnameOrIP(hostname string) string {
 	if ip, found := hostnameIPOverrides.m[hostname]; found {
 		host = ip
 	}
+
+	if *sshUser == "" {
+		*sshUser = os.Getenv("KUBE_SSH_USER")
+	}
+
 	if *sshUser != "" {
 		host = fmt.Sprintf("%s@%s", *sshUser, host)
 	}