diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/ssh/ssh.go b/test/e2e/framework/ssh/ssh.go
index 87a684d9ce4..7a793e999ca 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/ssh/ssh.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/ssh/ssh.go
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ func runSSHCommand(cmd, user, host string, signer ssh.Signer) (string, string, i
 		err = wait.Poll(5*time.Second, 20*time.Second, func() (bool, error) {
 			fmt.Printf("error dialing %s@%s: '%v', retrying\n", user, host, err)
 			if client, err = ssh.Dial("tcp", host, config); err != nil {
-				return false, err
+				return false, nil // retrying, error will be logged above
 			}
 			return true, nil
 		})