diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/util.go b/test/e2e/framework/util.go
index fcd82753b90..6155095d33f 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/util.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/util.go
@@ -3407,7 +3407,7 @@ func NewHostExecPodSpec(ns, name string) *v1.Pod {
 // RunHostCmd runs the given cmd in the context of the given pod using `kubectl exec`
 // inside of a shell.
 func RunHostCmd(ns, name, cmd string) (string, error) {
-	return RunKubectl("exec", fmt.Sprintf("--namespace=%v", ns), name, "--", "/bin/sh", "-c", cmd)
+	return RunKubectl("exec", fmt.Sprintf("--namespace=%v", ns), name, "--", "/bin/sh", "-x", "-c", cmd)
 }
 
 // RunHostCmdOrDie calls RunHostCmd and dies on error.