diff --git a/test/e2e_node/util.go b/test/e2e_node/util.go
index 680f0f3889f..2e9d07071d2 100644
--- a/test/e2e_node/util.go
+++ b/test/e2e_node/util.go
@@ -233,7 +233,10 @@ func updateKubeletConfig(ctx context.Context, f *framework.Framework, kubeletCon
 
 	ginkgo.By("Starting the kubelet")
 	startKubelet()
+	waitForKubeletToStart(ctx, f)
+}
 
+func waitForKubeletToStart(ctx context.Context, f *framework.Framework) {
 	// wait until the kubelet health check will succeed
 	gomega.Eventually(ctx, func() bool {
 		return kubeletHealthCheck(kubeletHealthCheckURL)