diff --git a/test/e2e/storage/utils/pod.go b/test/e2e/storage/utils/pod.go
index b99d3b16fc4..d4366c3d70e 100644
--- a/test/e2e/storage/utils/pod.go
+++ b/test/e2e/storage/utils/pod.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func StartPodLogs(f *framework.Framework, driverNamespace *v1.Namespace) func()
 
 	ns := driverNamespace.Name
 
-	podEventLog := ginkgo.GinkgoWriter
+	var podEventLog io.Writer = ginkgo.GinkgoWriter
 	var podEventLogCloser io.Closer
 	to := podlogs.LogOutput{
 		StatusWriter: ginkgo.GinkgoWriter,