diff --git a/test/e2e_node/garbage_collector_test.go b/test/e2e_node/garbage_collector_test.go
index 5e6bb473717..5a11a109e22 100644
--- a/test/e2e_node/garbage_collector_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e_node/garbage_collector_test.go
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ func verifyPodRestartCount(ctx context.Context, f *framework.Framework, podName
 			updatedPod.Name, expectedNumContainers, len(updatedPod.Status.ContainerStatuses))
 	}
 	for _, containerStatus := range updatedPod.Status.ContainerStatuses {
-		if containerStatus.RestartCount != expectedRestartCount {
+		if containerStatus.RestartCount < expectedRestartCount {
 			return fmt.Errorf("pod %s had container with restartcount %d.  Should have been at least %d",
 				updatedPod.Name, containerStatus.RestartCount, expectedRestartCount)
 		}