diff --git a/test/e2e/kubectl/portforward.go b/test/e2e/kubectl/portforward.go
index 934c60c3513..1e5b9048c76 100644
--- a/test/e2e/kubectl/portforward.go
+++ b/test/e2e/kubectl/portforward.go
@@ -322,11 +322,6 @@ func doTestMustConnectSendDisconnect(bindAddress string, f *framework.Framework)
 	ginkgo.By("Sending the expected data to the local port")
 	fmt.Fprint(conn, "abc")
 
-	ginkgo.By("Closing the write half of the client's connection")
-	if err = conn.CloseWrite(); err != nil {
-		framework.Failf("Couldn't close the write half of the client's connection: %v", err)
-	}
-
 	ginkgo.By("Reading data from the local port")
 	fromServer, err := ioutil.ReadAll(conn)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -343,6 +338,11 @@ func doTestMustConnectSendDisconnect(bindAddress string, f *framework.Framework)
 		framework.Failf("Expected %q from server, got %q", e, a)
 	}
 
+	ginkgo.By("Closing the write half of the client's connection")
+	if err = conn.CloseWrite(); err != nil {
+		framework.Failf("Couldn't close the write half of the client's connection: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	ginkgo.By("Waiting for the target pod to stop running")
 	if err := WaitForTerminatedContainer(f, pod, "portforwardtester"); err != nil {
 		framework.Failf("Container did not terminate: %v", err)