diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/util.go b/test/e2e/framework/util.go
index 206311a4c31..947d5dc6ba8 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/util.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/util.go
@@ -366,6 +366,14 @@ func SkipUnlessProviderIs(supportedProviders ...string) {
 	}
 }
 
+func SkipIfContainerRuntimeIs(runtimes ...string) {
+	for _, runtime := range runtimes {
+		if runtime == TestContext.ContainerRuntime {
+			Skipf("Not supported under container runtime %s", runtime)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func ProviderIs(providers ...string) bool {
 	for _, provider := range providers {
 		if strings.ToLower(provider) == strings.ToLower(TestContext.Provider) {
diff --git a/test/e2e/pods.go b/test/e2e/pods.go
index 7fb8249446e..94eec318b5f 100644
--- a/test/e2e/pods.go
+++ b/test/e2e/pods.go
@@ -664,6 +664,7 @@ var _ = framework.KubeDescribe("Pods", func() {
 	})
 
 	It("should invoke init containers on a RestartNever pod", func() {
+		framework.SkipIfContainerRuntimeIs("rkt") // #25988
 		podClient := f.Client.Pods(f.Namespace.Name)
 
 		By("creating the pod")
@@ -729,6 +730,7 @@ var _ = framework.KubeDescribe("Pods", func() {
 	})
 
 	It("should invoke init containers on a RestartAlways pod", func() {
+		framework.SkipIfContainerRuntimeIs("rkt") // #25988
 		podClient := f.Client.Pods(f.Namespace.Name)
 
 		By("creating the pod")
@@ -798,6 +800,7 @@ var _ = framework.KubeDescribe("Pods", func() {
 	})
 
 	It("should not start app containers if init containers fail on a RestartAlways pod", func() {
+		framework.SkipIfContainerRuntimeIs("rkt") // #25988
 		podClient := f.Client.Pods(f.Namespace.Name)
 
 		By("creating the pod")
@@ -913,6 +916,7 @@ var _ = framework.KubeDescribe("Pods", func() {
 	})
 
 	It("should not start app containers and fail the pod if init containers fail on a RestartNever pod", func() {
+		framework.SkipIfContainerRuntimeIs("rkt") // #25988
 		podClient := f.Client.Pods(f.Namespace.Name)
 
 		By("creating the pod")