diff --git a/cluster/gce/config-default.sh b/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
index 7e9ddfd0342..d270f6af598 100755
--- a/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/config-default.sh
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ PREEMPTIBLE_MASTER=${PREEMPTIBLE_MASTER:-false}
 KUBE_DELETE_NODES=${KUBE_DELETE_NODES:-true}
 
 MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-gci}}
-NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-debian}}
+NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-gci}}
 # By default a cluster will be started with the master on GCI and nodes on
 # containervm. If you are updating the containervm version, update this
 # variable. Also please update corresponding image for node e2e at:
diff --git a/cluster/gce/config-test.sh b/cluster/gce/config-test.sh
index a3d5a12e80e..aa3c419f43b 100755
--- a/cluster/gce/config-test.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/config-test.sh
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ PREEMPTIBLE_MASTER=${PREEMPTIBLE_MASTER:-false}
 KUBE_DELETE_NODES=${KUBE_DELETE_NODES:-true}
 
 MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_MASTER_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-gci}}
-NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-debian}}
+NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=${KUBE_NODE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-gci}}
 # By default a cluster will be started with the master on GCI and nodes on
 # containervm. If you are updating the containervm version, update this
 # variable. Also please update corresponding image for node e2e at: